Here's how it works:
* Light energy from the sun is captured by chlorophyll, a green pigment found in plants.
* This light energy is used to split water molecules (H₂O), releasing oxygen (O₂) as a byproduct.
* The energy from the split water molecules is used to combine carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the air with the hydrogen from the water molecules.
* This results in the creation of glucose (C₆H₁₂O₆), a simple sugar that stores chemical energy.
In summary:
Light energy + Carbon Dioxide + Water → Glucose + Oxygen
This chemical energy stored in glucose is then used by plants for growth, reproduction, and other life processes. It's also the basis for the food chain, as animals consume plants to obtain this stored chemical energy.
There are other processes that convert energy into chemical energy, but photosynthesis is the primary one that sustains life on Earth.
