Which process converts sunlight into energy used for synthesizing glucose?

The process that converts sunlight into energy for synthesizing glucose is photosynthesis. During photosynthesis, plants, algae, and some bacteria capture light energy, primarily from the sun, through chlorophyll in their chloroplasts. This light energy is then used to convert carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and water from the soil into glucose and oxygen. The overall reaction can be simplified to show that light energy fuels the transformation of these raw materials into glucose, which serves as an energy source for the plant and can be used in various metabolic processes.

Photosynthesis is essential for life on Earth, as it forms the base of the food chain and provides oxygen, which is critical for the survival of aerobic organisms. In contrast, respiration is a process that breaks down glucose to release energy, fermentation is an anaerobic process for energy production without oxygen, and transpiration refers to the movement of water through a plant and its evaporation from aerial parts, primarily leaves.