What is the process by which plants convert sunlight into chemical energy?

The process by which plants convert sunlight into chemical energy is called photosynthesis. During this process, plants take in carbon dioxide from the air and water from the soil. Using the energy from sunlight, specifically from chlorophyll in their leaves, they convert these raw materials into glucose (a type of sugar) and oxygen. The primary chemical equation for photosynthesis can be summarized as: carbon dioxide plus water, in the presence of sunlight, yields glucose and oxygen.

Photosynthesis is crucial for life on Earth because it not only provides energy in the form of glucose for the plant itself but also produces oxygen that is essential for the survival of most living organisms. This process occurs mainly in the chloroplasts of plant cells and is fundamental to the food chain, enabling plants to serve as the primary producers in ecosystems.

This option stands out as the definition and significance of photosynthesis align perfectly with the question of how plants harness sunlight to create energy in a chemical form.