What is photosynthesis?
Photosynthesis is how plants use the energy of sunlight to make their own food — a sugar called glucose. The word comes from Greek: “photo” means light and “synthesis” means putting together.
What does a plant need?
- Sunlight — the source of energy.
- Water — the plant takes it from the soil through its roots.
- Carbon dioxide (CO₂) — comes in from the air through tiny holes in the leaves called stomata.
- Chlorophyll — the substance that makes leaves green and “catches” light.
What do we get in the end?
carbon dioxide + water + light → glucose + oxygen
The plant uses glucose to grow. The “leftover” is oxygen — the gas we breathe! So every breath we take is a reason to thank plants.