Which plant process uses sunlight to convert water and carbon dioxide into sugars?

Which plant process uses sunlight to convert water and carbon dioxide into sugars?

• A. Fermentation
• B. Photosynthesis
• C. Transpiration
• D. Respiration

Answer: (B)

Plants use light energy to drive a chemical process that turns water and carbon dioxide into sugars. In chloroplasts, light energy excites chlorophyll and powers reactions that split water and generate ATP and NADPH. Those energy carriers feed the Calvin cycle, which fixes carbon dioxide into organic sugars such as glucose. This whole sequence uses sunlight to build stored chemical energy from basic inputs. The other processes don’t build sugars using light. Fermentation occurs without light to break down sugars for energy; respiration breaks down sugars to release energy using oxygen; transpiration is the loss of water from leaves.

Plants use light energy to drive a chemical process that turns water and carbon dioxide into sugars. In chloroplasts, light energy excites chlorophyll and powers reactions that split water and generate ATP and NADPH. Those energy carriers feed the Calvin cycle, which fixes carbon dioxide into organic sugars such as glucose. This whole sequence uses sunlight to build stored chemical energy from basic inputs.

The other processes don’t build sugars using light. Fermentation occurs without light to break down sugars for energy; respiration breaks down sugars to release energy using oxygen; transpiration is the loss of water from leaves.