What is the process by which plants convert sunlight into food?

The process by which plants convert sunlight into food is known as photosynthesis. During photosynthesis, plants utilize sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to create glucose, a type of sugar that serves as food for the plant. This process occurs in the chloroplasts, which contain chlorophyll—the green pigment that captures sunlight. The overall chemical reaction involved in photosynthesis can be summarized as:

6CO2 + 6H2O + light energy → C6H12O6 + 6O2

This indicates that six molecules of carbon dioxide and six molecules of water, in the presence of light energy, are transformed into one molecule of glucose and six molecules of oxygen. The release of oxygen as a byproduct is vital for the survival of many organisms, including humans, who rely on oxygen for respiration.

Understanding that photosynthesis is fundamental to the energy flow within ecosystems helps clarify why it is such a vital process in nature.