1. 6 carbon dioxide molecules combine with six 5-carbon molecules forming twelve 3-carbon molecules.
2. The 12x 3-carbon molecules are converted into high-energy forms.
3. 2 of the 12 3-carbon molecules are removed and the plant uses them to produce sugars, lipids, amino acids, and other compounds.
4. The 10x 3-carbon molecules change back into six 5-carbon molecules, which combine with 6 more carbon dioxide molecules. The process starts over.
