Photosynthesis primarily utilizes light energy, typically from the sun. During this process, plants, algae, and some bacteria convert light energy into chemical energy stored in glucose (a type of sugar). The overall equation for photosynthesis can be simplified as follows:
\[ 6 , CO_2 + 6 , H_2O + \text{light energy} \rightarrow C_6H_{12}O_6 + 6 , O_2 \]
Here, carbon dioxide and water are converted into glucose and oxygen, using light energy captured by chlorophyll in the chloroplasts of plant cells.