All life processes are supported by the simple sugar glucose. Glucose is both the primary source of energy for these processes and an important building block for many other compounds. Plants capture light energy through their leaves and use it to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose. The process is called ‘photosynthesis’.
Photosynthesis is the source of all of the organic compounds and most of the energy used to sustain life on Earth. Oxygen is a by-product of photosynthesis. Photosynthesis produces most of the oxygen in our atmosphere.
Plant leaves contain pigments called chlorophyll that absorb red and blue wavelengths of light and reflect green light, which is why leaves appear green to our eyes. When a chlorophyll molecule absorbs a single photon of light,