What are the products of the splitting of water during photosynthesis?

The splitting of water during photosynthesis, also known as photolysis, occurs in the light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis. This process results in the production of oxygen, protons (H+), and electrons.

When light energy is absorbed by chlorophyll in the thylakoid membranes of the chloroplasts, it excites electrons, which then travel through the electron transport chain. To replace these electrons, water molecules are split, which releases oxygen as a byproduct and produces protons and electrons.

The released electrons are crucial as they help generate ATP and NADPH, which are vital for the light-independent reactions (Calvin cycle) where carbon dioxide is fixed into carbohydrates like glucose. The oxygen produced is essential for aerobic respiration in most living organisms.

In the context of the other options, while carbon dioxide and glucose are involved in photosynthesis, they are not the direct products of water splitting. Similarly, NADPH and ATP are generated later in the process but are not the immediate products of water photolysis. ADP and inorganic phosphate are components used to form ATP, but again, they are not directly produced from the splitting of water.