Photosynthesis is a vital process that occurs in plants, where they convert light energy, usually from the sun, into chemical energy stored in glucose. The main products of photosynthesis are glucose, which serves as food for the plant, and oxygen, which is released as a byproduct into the atmosphere.
The general equation for photosynthesis can be summarized as follows:
6CO2 + 6H2O + light energy → C6H12O6 + 6O2
In this equation, carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O) are the raw materials that the plant takes in. Using sunlight captured by chlorophyll in the chloroplasts, the plant transforms these substances into glucose (C6H12O6), a simple sugar that the plant can use for energy and growth. The process also releases oxygen (O2), which is essential for the survival of most organisms on Earth.