Fotosintesis (photosynthesis) is the vital process where plants, algae, and some bacteria use light energy
to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose (a sugar) and oxygen. This conversion occurs primarily
in chloroplasts, using the green pigment chlorophyll, and produces the food and energy necessary for
these organisms to grow. Crucially, it also releases the oxygen essential for respiration in most animals,
thereby supporting nearly all life on Earth and maintaining atmospheric balance.
The Process Explained
1. Inputs:
Plants absorb water from the soil through their roots and take in carbon dioxide from the air through
tiny pores in their leaves called stomata.
2. Light Energy:
Sunlight provides the energy needed to drive the chemical reactions of photosynthesis.
3. Chlorophyll's Role:
Chlorophyll, the green pigment found in chloroplasts, captures this light energy.
4. Chemical Conversion:
The captured light energy splits water molecules and, in a series of steps, combines the carbon dioxide
with other molecules to create glucose, a type of sugar that serves as food for the plant.
5. Oxygen Release:
A byproduct of the splitting of water is oxygen, which is released back into the atmosphere.
