Final answer:
Photosynthesis is the process where plants use sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water to create glucose and oxygen, vital for both plant growth and providing oxygen for the planet.
Step-by-step explanation:
The process by which plants take in sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water to make sugar and oxygen is known as photosynthesis. This is a crucial life-sustaining process that converts light energy into chemical energy, which is stored as glucose, a type of sugar that serves as a food source for plants. Furthermore, the process releases oxygen into the atmosphere, which is vital for animal life.
During photosynthesis, plants absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and water from the soil, utilizing the sun's energy to synthesize glucose. The general chemical equation representing the photosynthesis process is 6CO2 + 6H2O + Light Energy → C6H12O6 + 6O2, where carbon dioxide and water are converted into glucose and oxygen. This biochemical pathway is multi-step and takes place in the chloroplasts of plant cells.