What process do plants use to convert light energy into chemical energy?

Plants utilize photosynthesis as the primary process to convert light energy into chemical energy. This occurs mainly in the chloroplasts of plant cells, where chlorophyll, the green pigment found in leaves, captures sunlight. During photosynthesis, carbon dioxide from the air and water from the soil combine in the presence of sunlight to produce glucose (a type of sugar) and oxygen. The glucose serves as a vital energy source that supports growth, reproduction, and other physiological functions in the plant. Oxygen, a byproduct of this process, is released into the atmosphere, contributing to the air we breathe.

Other choices, while related to plant processes, do not pertain directly to the conversion of light energy into chemical energy. For instance, respiration involves the breakdown of glucose to release energy, transpiration refers to the evaporation of water from plant leaves, and absorption pertains to the uptake of water and nutrients from the soil.