The scientific term for the process that plants use to convert sunlight into food is photosynthesis. During this process, plants capture sunlight using chlorophyll and convert carbon dioxide from the air and water from the soil into glucose and oxygen. The glucose serves as an energy source and building block for growth, while oxygen is released as a byproduct. Photosynthesis is fundamental for life on Earth, providing the oxygen necessary for many organisms and forming the foundation of most food chains.