Question:

Who first suggested that the oxygen evolved by green plants comes from water and not from carbon dioxide?

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Photolysis of water during light reaction releases oxygen in photosynthesis.
Updated On: Mar 6, 2026
  • Robert Hill
  • C. Van Neil
  • Park and Biggins
  • Dr. Arnon
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The Correct Option is B

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Understanding photosynthetic oxygen evolution.
Photosynthesis releases oxygen as a by-product, but the actual source of this oxygen was a subject of scientific investigation.
Step 2: Contribution of C. Van Neil.
C. Van Neil studied photosynthetic bacteria and proposed that oxygen released during photosynthesis originates from water molecules, not from carbon dioxide.
Step 3: Supporting evidence.
Later experiments using isotopic oxygen confirmed Van Neil’s hypothesis.
Step 4: Conclusion.
C. Van Neil was the first to suggest that photosynthetic oxygen comes from water.
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