What is the process by which plants convert sunlight into energy?

Plants convert sunlight into energy through the process known as photosynthesis. This process occurs primarily in the chloroplasts of plant cells, where chlorophyll captures sunlight. During photosynthesis, plants utilize carbon dioxide from the air and water from the soil to produce glucose, which serves as an energy source, and oxygen, which is released as a byproduct. This conversion not only provides energy for the plant's growth and development but also is crucial for life on Earth, as it generates oxygen and serves as the foundation of the food chain.

The other processes mentioned are distinct from photosynthesis. Respiration refers to the process by which organisms convert glucose and oxygen into carbon dioxide, water, and energy, which is the opposite of what occurs in photosynthesis. Transpiration is the process through which water is absorbed by roots and evaporates from the leaves, playing a role in water regulation rather than energy conversion. Metabolism encompasses all biochemical reactions within an organism, including both the building up of substances (anabolism) and the breaking down of substances (catabolism), but it does not specifically refer to the conversion of sunlight into energy.