Plants in Your Gas Tank: Photosynthesis to Ethanol

With ethanol becoming more prevalent in the media and in gas tanks, it is important for students to know from where it comes. This module from the U.S. Department of Engergy uses a series of activities to show how energy and mass are converted from one form to another. It focuses on the conversion of light energy into chemical energy via photosynthesis. It then goes on to show how the chemical energy in plant sugars can be fermented to produce ethanol. Finally, the reasons for using ethanol as a fuel are discussed.