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