Here's a breakdown:
* Photosynthesis is a process used by plants, algae, and some bacteria to convert light energy into chemical energy.
* During photosynthesis, these organisms take in carbon dioxide (CO2) from the air and water (H2O) from the soil.
* Using sunlight as energy, they combine the CO2 and H2O to create glucose (C6H12O6), a type of sugar that serves as food for the plant, and oxygen (O2) as a byproduct.
Here's a simplified chemical equation for photosynthesis:
6CO2 + 6H2O + light energy → C6H12O6 + 6O2
So, in essence, plants use sunlight to split water molecules, releasing oxygen as a waste product. This oxygen is then released into the atmosphere, making it available for us to breathe!