Photosynthesis is the biological process by which green plants, algae, and some bacteria convert light energy, typically from the sun, into chemical energy stored in glucose (a sugar). This process primarily occurs in the chloroplasts of plant cells, where chlorophyll (the green pigment) captures sunlight.
The general equation for photosynthesis can be expressed as:
\[ 6 , \text{CO}_2 + 6 , \text{H}_2\text{O} + \text{light energy} \rightarrow \text{C}6\text{H}{12}\text{O}_6 + 6 , \text{O}_2 \]
This equation shows that carbon dioxide (CO₂) and water (H₂O) are converted into glucose (C₆H₁₂O₆) and oxygen (O₂) in the presence of light. Photosynthesis is essential for life on Earth, as it provides the oxygen we breathe and is the foundation of the food chain.
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