Final answer:
Plants absorb water and mineral nutrients through their roots, and carbon dioxide from the atmosphere for photosynthesis, using sunlight to convert these inorganic substances into glucose and oxygen.
Step-by-step explanation:
Plants obtain the raw materials necessary for growth and photosynthesis from their environment. They absorb water, mineral nutrients, and carbon dioxide, which are essential for creating their own food. Water and nutrients are absorbed through the plant's root system from the soil, which is rich in minerals. Carbon dioxide is taken from the atmosphere, which along with water and sunlight, are used by the plants' photosynthetic process to create glucose, a type of carbohydrate that acts as an energy source.
During photosynthesis, which occurs in the chloroplasts of the plant cells, carbon dioxide and water are converted into glucose and oxygen using solar energy. This is crucial for plant growth and for providing energy to nearly all other living organisms that rely on plants for food. As autotrophs, plants serve as the foundation of most food chains by being able to synthesize organic compounds from inorganic raw materials thanks to this process.