Plants use a process called photosynthesis to convert sunlight into energy. This intricate process occurs mainly in the chloroplasts of plant cells, where chlorophyll, the green pigment, captures sunlight. During photosynthesis, plants take in carbon dioxide from the air and water from the soil, using sunlight's energy to convert these substances into glucose and oxygen. The glucose serves as an energy source for the plant, while the oxygen is released as a byproduct, benefiting the atmosphere and all aerobic life forms. This fundamental process not only sustains the plants themselves but also forms the basis of most food chains on Earth.