What is the process by which plants make their own food?

Photosynthesis is the process by which plants convert light energy, typically from the sun, into chemical energy stored in glucose, a type of sugar. This process occurs mainly in the chloroplasts of plant cells, where chlorophyll, the green pigment, captures light energy. During photosynthesis, plants take in carbon dioxide from the air and water from the soil, using the light energy to convert these into glucose and oxygen. The general equation for photosynthesis can be summarized as:

6 CO₂ + 6 H₂O + light energy → C₆H₁₂O₆ (glucose) + 6 O₂.

This process is crucial for plant growth, development, and energy production, and it also plays a vital role in the Earth's ecosystem by providing oxygen and serving as the foundation of the food chain.

In contrast, respiration refers to the metabolic processes that convert the glucose created during photosynthesis into usable energy for the plant, while transpiration is the process of water evaporation from plant leaves, which helps with nutrient transport. Digestion is a biological process used by animals to break down food, which is not applicable to how plants acquire energy.