Plants make their food through a process called photosynthesis. During this process, they convert sunlight, carbon dioxide from the air, and water from the soil into glucose and oxygen. Chlorophyll, the green pigment in leaves, captures sunlight and triggers the chemical reactions necessary for this conversion. The glucose serves as energy and a building block for growth, while oxygen is released as a byproduct. Photosynthesis primarily occurs in the chloroplasts of plant cells, making it essential for plant life and contributing significantly to the Earth’s atmosphere.