What is photosynthesis?

Photosynthesis is defined as the process by which light energy is converted into chemical energy by plants, algae, and certain bacteria. This process primarily occurs in the chloroplasts of plant cells, where chlorophyll captures light energy, typically from the sun. During photosynthesis, carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and water from the soil are utilized to produce glucose and oxygen. The glucose generated serves as a vital energy source for plants and, ultimately, for all organisms that depend on plants for food, making this process fundamental to life on Earth.

While cellular respiration, cellular division, and nutrient transport are important biological processes, they do not accurately capture the essence of photosynthesis as the transformation of light energy into stored chemical energy, which is the critical function involved in this process.