NCERT · Class 10 · Science · Life ProcessesExplain the process of photosynthesis in plants and write its overall chemical equation.

Photosynthesis is the fundamental biological process by which green plants, algae, and certain bacteria convert light energy into chemical energy. This process primarily takes place within specialized cellular organelles known as chloroplasts, which contain the green pigment called chlorophyll. Chlorophyll functions by absorbing sunlight, which provides the necessary energy to drive the chemical reactions. During photosynthesis, plants take in carbon dioxide gas from the surrounding atmosphere through microscopic pores called stomata located mostly on the underside of their leaves. Simultaneously, water is absorbed from the soil by the root system and transported upward through xylem vessels to the leaves. Inside the chloroplasts, the absorbed solar energy is utilized to split water molecules into oxygen and hydrogen. The hydrogen is then used along with carbon dioxide to synthesize glucose, which serves as the primary food source and energy currency for the plant's growth and metabolic activities. Oxygen is produced as a valuable by-product of this reaction and is released back into the atmosphere, sustaining aerobic life on Earth. The overall balanced chemical equation representing the process of photosynthesis is: 6CO2 + 6H2O + Sunlight/Chlorophyll → C6H12O6 + 6O2.