The chemical change which happens in the leaves of green plants. It is the first step towards making food - not just for plants but ultimately every animal on the planet.
During photosynthesis:
Light energy is absorbed by chlorophyll, a green substance found in chloroplasts in some plant cells and algaeAbsorbed light energy is used to convert carbon dioxide (from the air) and water (from the soil) into a sugar called glucoseOxygen is released as a by-product
This equation summarises what happens in photosynthesis:
carbon dioxide + water ----sunlight----> glucose + oxygen