Final answer:
Photosynthesis is a biological process where plants use solar energy to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen. Glucose serves as an energy source for the plant, while oxygen, a byproduct, is released into the atmosphere.
Step-by-step explanation:
Photosynthesis is the process where plants use solar energy from the sun to convert water and carbon dioxide into glucose and starches, with oxygen being released as a waste product.
During photosynthesis, carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O) combine with solar energy to create glucose (C6H12O6), which is a carbohydrate, and oxygen (O2). This process is not only essential for the survival of the plants themselves, as they use glucose for energy, but it also provides the oxygen that animals, including humans, need to breathe.
The overall chemical equation for photosynthesis can be summarized as follows:
6CO2 + 6H2O + Light Energy → C6H12O6 + 6O2.
This shows that six molecules of carbon dioxide and six molecules of water, using light energy, are converted into one molecule of glucose and six molecules of oxygen.