Chemosynthesis

[MolotovCocktail]

There are some life forms, especially the ones that live near ocean vents, that utilize chemosynthesis as a way to obtain energy for their cellular functions and life, much like the way surface organisms use photosynthesis for their energy. What chemicals are involved in chemosynthesis? Do they produce sugars like Glucose to be their main source of energy?

[chemhero]

I believe hydrogen sulphide (H2S) is involved?

 

Matt

[JHAQ]

Photosynthesis does not generate energy -- it traps light & stores its energy content , generally as metabollisable sugars of various types . This stored energy is the foundation of all life on earth except those forms able to metabolise other forms of chemical energy-- such as some inorganic chemicals in ocean vents --- by different metabolic pathways . The chemicals invoved must contain releasable energy of some sort locked up in its chemical bonding .

[gonelli]

I've read in my biology studies that some bacteria that use chemosynthesis obtain energy by converting ammonium ions (NH4 +) to nitrite ions (NO2 -). While others can use sulfide ions (S2 -) and convert them to sulfate ions (SO4 2-) to get energy.

The energy produced from these chemical conversions is then used as a substitute for sunlight in a process similar to photosynthesis (similar in that inorganic compounds are changed to organic compounds). And the organic compounds produced contain releasable chemical energy in their bonds, as was mentioned by JHAQ.