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

Photosynthesis is the process used by plants to convert sunlight into chemical energy. During photosynthesis, plants absorb sunlight primarily through their leaves, specifically via chlorophyll, the green pigment in chloroplasts. Using that light energy, plants transform carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and water from the soil into glucose, a type of sugar that serves as a source of energy and material for growth. Oxygen is produced as a byproduct and released into the atmosphere, which is vital for the survival of aerobic organisms, including humans.

The significance of photosynthesis in the ecosystem cannot be overstated, as it forms the foundation of the food chain. Plants serve as primary producers, converting solar energy into a form that can be used by all other living organisms.

The other options address different biological processes that do not involve the conversion of sunlight into chemical energy. Respiration refers to the process by which organisms convert oxygen and glucose into carbon dioxide, water, and energy, essentially the reverse of photosynthesis. Metabolism encompasses all chemical reactions in the body, including those for energy conversion, but does not specifically refer to the conversion of sunlight into energy. Assimilation involves the incorporation of nutrients into the cells of an organism but does not specifically describe the energy-conversion process originating from sunlight