What process do plants use to make energy from light?

Plants convert light energy into chemical energy through photosynthesis, which occurs primarily in the chloroplasts of plant cells. During this process, plants take in carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and water from the soil. Using sunlight captured by chlorophyll, the green pigment in plants, they convert these raw materials into glucose (a type of sugar) and oxygen. The glucose serves as energy for the plant and as a building block for growth, while the oxygen is released into the atmosphere as a byproduct.

This process is essential for plant life and has a significant impact on the Earth's ecosystem, as it is the foundation for the food chain and influences carbon dioxide and oxygen levels in the atmosphere. Understanding photosynthesis is crucial in the study of biology and ecology, as it underpins life on Earth.