Final answer:
Photosynthesis is the process where plants use sunlight to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen, a reaction critical for life on Earth.
Step-by-step explanation:
Photosynthesis is an essential biochemical process in which plants, using the energy from sunlight, convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose (C6H12O6) and oxygen (O2). The general equation representing this process is 6CO2 + 6H2O + sunlight → C6H12O6 + 6O2. During this process, carbon dioxide is 'reduced' to glucose, and water is 'oxidized' to form oxygen gas. The glucose produced serves as the primary 'food' source for plants, and the oxygen released is crucial for animal life.
The synthesis of glucose in photosynthesis can be thought of as a two-stage process comprising of the light reactions and the Calvin cycle. In the light reactions, solar energy is captured and used to produce ATP and NADPH, which are then utilized in the Calvin cycle to convert carbon dioxide into glucose.