Plants need sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water to perform photosynthesis. This essential process allows them to convert light energy into chemical energy, producing glucose (a form of sugar) and oxygen as byproducts. During photosynthesis, chlorophyll—found in the chloroplasts of plant cells—absorbs sunlight. Concurrently, plants take in carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through small openings in their leaves called stomata. Water is absorbed through roots from the soil. The sugars produced provide energy for the plant’s growth and development, while the released oxygen supports life on Earth, underscoring the critical role of plants in our ecosystem.