What is the primary process by which plants convert sunlight into energy?

Plants primarily convert sunlight into energy through the process known as photosynthesis. During photosynthesis, plants utilize chlorophyll, a green pigment found in their leaves, to absorb sunlight. This energy from sunlight is then used to convert carbon dioxide, which they take in from the air, and water, absorbed through their roots, into glucose and oxygen. The glucose serves as an energy source for the plant, while the oxygen is released as a byproduct into the atmosphere.

This process is crucial not only for plant life but also for all living organisms on Earth, as it forms the basis of the food chain and is the primary source of oxygen in our atmosphere. Other processes, such as cellular respiration, are involved in how living organisms utilize that energy, but they do not convert sunlight into energy, which is the core function of photosynthesis.