The process by which plants make their food using sunlight is called photosynthesis. During photosynthesis, plants convert light energy from the sun into chemical energy stored in glucose, a type of sugar. This process primarily occurs in the chloroplasts of plant cells, where chlorophyll pigments absorb sunlight. The overall chemical equation for photosynthesis involves carbon dioxide and water, which, in the presence of sunlight, are transformed into glucose and oxygen. This process is crucial for life on Earth, as it provides oxygen for animals and humans to breathe and serves as the foundation of the food chain by supplying energy to plants, which are producers.