Which process allows plants to convert light energy into chemical energy?

Photosynthesis is the process through which plants convert light energy into chemical energy stored in glucose, a type of sugar. During photosynthesis, plants utilize sunlight, carbon dioxide from the air, and water from the soil to produce glucose and oxygen. This occurs primarily in the chloroplasts of plant cells, where chlorophyll pigments capture light energy and initiate a series of chemical reactions.

In the presence of light, chlorophyll absorbs specific wavelengths of light and uses that energy to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose, a process that significantly contributes to the energy supply for the plant and forms the basis of food chains in ecosystems. The overall reaction can be summed up in a simple equation:

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

This demonstrates not only the conversion of light energy into chemical energy but also its importance for providing oxygen, which is essential for most life forms on Earth.

The other options refer to different biological processes: respiration involves breaking down glucose to release energy; fermentation is an anaerobic process that occurs in the absence of oxygen; and hydrolysis is a chemical reaction that involves the breaking down of compounds by water. Understanding photosynthesis is fundamental in agriculture because it