What process do plants use to convert sunlight into energy?

Plants use photosynthesis to convert sunlight into energy. This process occurs mainly in the chloroplasts of plant cells, where chlorophyll captures sunlight. During photosynthesis, plants take in carbon dioxide from the air and water from the soil. Using the energy from sunlight, they convert these raw materials into glucose (a type of sugar) and oxygen. The glucose produced during this process serves as an energy source for the plant, allowing it to grow and carry out various functions, while the oxygen generated is released into the atmosphere, contributing to the air we breathe.

Photosynthesis is essential not only for the plants themselves but also for nearly all life on Earth, as it serves as the primary source of organic matter in the food chain. The other processes listed, such as cellular respiration and fermentation, are primarily associated with breaking down glucose for energy rather than creating it, while transpiration involves the movement of water through plants, not energy conversion.