Photosynthesis: How Plants Make Food

• Photosynthesis enables the production of food by plants
• The term 'photo' means light, while 'synthesis' means to put together
• Sunlight is converted into chemical energy through photosynthesis, supporting plant activities like growth and seed production

Requirements for Photosynthesis

• Plants require sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to carry out photosynthesis
• Starches and sugars are produced, and oxygen is released as a byproduct

How Photosynthesis Works

• Chloroplasts in leaves and green parts of plants absorb sunlight
• Chloroplasts contain chlorophyll, which gives plants their green color and captures sunlight energy
• Carbon dioxide is absorbed from the air through stomata, which are tiny pores in the leaves
• Water and nutrients are absorbed through the roots, then transported to the leaves

Glucose and Oxygen Production

• Glucose, a type of sugar that fuels plant growth, is created when sunlight and water combine with carbon dioxide inside the leaves
• Carbon dioxide transforms into oxygen during photosynthesis, which is then released back into the atmosphere through stomata

Importance of Photosynthesis

• The majority of Earth's oxygen is produced by plants through photosynthesis
• Phytoplankton and other ocean plants generate up to 70% of the Earth's oxygen
• Plants depend on the sugars made during photosynthesis for development, good health, and the creation of flowers and fruits

Sugars and Human Life

• Plants provide energy to humans and animals that cannot produce their own food from the sunlight
• For humans and animals to survive, photosynthesis is essential because it converts water, light, and carbon dioxide into sugars and oxygen

Explore how plants convert sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide into food through photosynthesis. Understand the roles of chloroplasts, chlorophyll, and stomata in this process. Learn about the production of glucose and oxygen.