Cells are open systems that exchange matter and energy with their surroundings. Which of the following best explains why plant cells require sunlight to make organic compounds, according to Gibbs’s theory of free energy? The photosynthetic reaction releases free energy to the surroundings.

The photosynthetic reaction’s free energy is in equilibrium.

The reactants of photosynthesis have less free energy than the products.

The change in free energy (∆G) of the photosynthetic system is less than zero.