What Is Photosynthesis?

Photosynthesis is the process by which green plants make their own food using sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide.

This process happens mainly in the leaves, inside small structures called chloroplasts, which contain chlorophyll (the green pigment that absorbs light).

What Does a Plant Need?

To do photosynthesis, a plant needs:

Sunlight → provides energy

Water (H₂O) → absorbed by the roots

Carbon dioxide (CO₂) → taken from the air through the leaves

Chlorophyll → captures light energy

How Does It Work?

The roots absorb water and mineral salts from the soil.

Water travels up the stem to the leaves using raw sap.

The leaves take in carbon dioxide from the air.

Chlorophyll captures energy from sunlight.

Using this energy, the plant transforms water and carbon dioxide into glucose (food) and send back the elaborated sap to roots to store energy and feed the fungi and microbial life in the soil.

Oxygen is produced and released into the air.

Why Is Glucose Important?

Glucose is the plant’s food. It is used for:

Growth, energy, making new cells, storing energy

The Photosynthesis Formula

The chemical equation for photosynthesis is:

6CO₂ + 6H₂O → C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂
Carbon dioxide + Water + Light → Glucose + Oxygen

Why Is Photosynthesis Important?

Photosynthesis is essential because it:

Produces oxygen for living beings
Provides food for plants (and animals indirectly)
Supports all life on Earth

Photosynthesis is the most important chemical formula on the planet, everybody should know and understand it, all life depends on it!