photosynthesisA chemical process used by plants to make glucose and oxygen from carbon dioxide and water, using light energy. Oxygen is produced as a by-product of photosynthesis. Algae subsumed within plants and some bacteria are also photosynthetic. is the process by which plants make carbohydrates from raw materials, using energy from light. During photosynthesis:
light energy is absorbed by chlorophyllThe green chemical inside the chloroplasts of plant cells. It enables photosynthesis to take place. - a green substance found in chloroplastContains the green pigment chlorophyll; the site of photosynthesis. in the palisade cells in the leaf
absorbed light energy is used to convert carbon dioxide (from the air) and water (from the soil) into a sugar called glucose
oxygen is released as a by-product
These equations summarise what happens in photosynthesis.
Some glucose is used for respirationThe chemical change that takes place inside living cells, which uses glucose and oxygen to release the energy that organisms need to live. Carbon dioxide is a by-product of respiration., while some is converted into insoluble starchA type of carbohydrate. Plants can turn the glucose produced in photosynthesis into starch for storage, and turn it back into glucose when it is needed for respiration. for storage. The stored starch can later be turned back into glucose and used in respiration.