What process transforms light energy into chemical energy in plants?

Photosynthesis is the process that converts light energy into chemical energy in plants. During this process, plants utilize sunlight to synthesize glucose from carbon dioxide and water. This reaction takes place primarily in the chloroplasts, where chlorophyll captures light energy. The overall reaction of photosynthesis can be summarized as carbon dioxide plus water, in the presence of light, producing glucose and oxygen.

The significance of photosynthesis lies in its role as the foundational mechanism through which energy enters the biosphere, as it provides not only energy in the form of glucose for the plant itself but also oxygen as a byproduct, which is vital for aerobic life.

In contrast, respiration is the process by which organisms break down glucose to release energy, evaporation pertains to the transformation of water from liquid to vapor, and fermentation is an anaerobic process that breaks down glucose without the need for oxygen, typically resulting in byproducts such as ethanol or lactic acid. These processes do not convert light energy into chemical energy, which is why they do not answer the question.