Final answer:
The chemical equation 6CO2 + 6H2O → C6H12O6 + 6O2 succinctly represents photosynthesis, where sunlight energy is utilized to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen.
Step-by-step explanation:
The equation that best summarizes the process of photosynthesis is 6CO2 + 6H2O → C6H12O6 + 6O2. This equation shows that six molecules of carbon dioxide (6CO2) and six molecules of water (6H2O) react in the presence of sunlight to produce one molecule of glucose (C6H12O6) and six molecules of oxygen (6O2). Though it appears simple, photosynthesis involves a series of complex reactions including light-dependent reactions and the Calvin cycle. During photosynthesis, energy is provided by sunlight and stored in the chemical bonds of glucose, a process catalyzed by chlorophyll within chloroplasts. In contrast, the reverse reaction of this process is cellular respiration, where glucose is broken down with oxygen to release energy, water, and carbon dioxide.