Which process converts sunlight into chemical energy in plants?

The process that converts sunlight into chemical energy in plants is photosynthesis. During photosynthesis, plants use chlorophyll in their leaves to capture sunlight and convert it into chemical energy stored in glucose, a type of sugar. This process occurs primarily in the chloroplasts of plant cells and involves the intake of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and water from the soil. The overall chemical reaction of photosynthesis can be summarized by the equation:

[ \text{6 CO}_2 + \text{6 H}_2\text{O} + \text{light energy} \rightarrow \text{C}6\text{H}{12}\text{O}_6 + \text{6 O}_2 ]

In this reaction, carbon dioxide and water are transformed into glucose and oxygen, highlighting how plants harness energy from sunlight to produce food.

The other processes listed do not involve the conversion of sunlight into chemical energy. Respiration is the process by which organisms convert glucose back into usable energy, typically involving oxygen and producing carbon dioxide and water as byproducts. Transpiration is the process where water vapor is released from plant leaves to the atmosphere, primarily for cooling and nutrient uptake, rather than energy conversion. Fermentation is an anaerobic