What process do plants use to synthesize glucose?

Plants synthesize glucose through a process known as photosynthesis. This process occurs primarily in the chloroplasts of plant cells, where they capture sunlight using chlorophyll, the green pigment. During photosynthesis, carbon dioxide from the air and water from the soil are converted into glucose and oxygen. The overall chemical reaction can be summarized as:

6 CO₂ + 6 H₂O + light energy → C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6 O₂

This demonstrates how light energy is transformed into chemical energy stored in glucose, which serves as a vital energy source for the plant and other organisms that consume it.

Transpiration, on the other hand, refers to the process where water evaporates from the plant's surface through small openings called stomata, which is important for nutrient transport and temperature regulation but does not synthesize glucose.

Respiration involves breaking down glucose to release energy, which is the reverse of photosynthesis, and digestion generally refers to the breakdown of food substances into smaller, absorbable components, which is not applicable to the synthesis of glucose in plants.