Final answer:
The equation is a simplified representation of the photosynthesis process, whereby plants convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen with the aid of sunlight. Photosynthesis includes multiple steps within the light reactions and the Calvin cycle.
Step-by-step explanation:
The equation 6CO2 + 6H2O + sunlight → C6H12O6 + 6O2 represents the photosynthesis process, which is fundamental for life on Earth. In this process, plants use the energy from sunlight to turn carbon dioxide and water into glucose (C6H12O6) and oxygen (O2). This process not only sustains the plant itself but also produces oxygen for other organisms to breathe.
Photosynthesis consists of two main stages: the light reactions, where sunlight is converted into chemical energy, and the Calvin cycle, which uses that energy to assemble sugar molecules from carbon dioxide. The equation given is a simplified representation of all the chemical reactions that occur during photosynthesis in plants. It's worth noting that while plants are carrying out photosynthesis, animals (including humans) perform cellular respiration, which is the reverse of this equation, to release energy from glucose.