Plants are able to make their own food through a process called photosynthesis. During photosynthesis, plants use sunlight, carbon dioxide from the air, and water from the soil to produce glucose (a type of sugar) and oxygen. This process primarily occurs in the chloroplasts of plant cells, where the pigment chlorophyll captures light energy.
The overall chemical equation for photosynthesis can be simplified as follows:
\[ 6 \text{CO}_2 + 6 \text{H}_2\text{O} + \text{light energy} → \text{C}6\text{H}{12}\text{O}_6 + 6 \text{O}_2 \]
Where:
- \( \text{CO}_2 \) = carbon dioxide
- \( \text{H}_2\text{O} \) = water
- \( \text{C}6\text{H}{12}\text{O}_6 \) = glucose
- \( \text{O}_2 \) = oxygen
The glucose produced serves as an energy source for the plant, while the oxygen is released into the atmosphere, which is vital for the survival of most living organisms on Earth. Through photosynthesis, plants play a crucial role in the Earth's ecosystem by converting solar energy into chemical energy, thus supporting life on our planet.