What process describes the production of glucose from carbon dioxide and water using light energy?

The production of glucose from carbon dioxide and water using light energy is known as photosynthesis. This process occurs primarily in plants, algae, and certain bacteria, which possess chlorophyll and other pigments that capture light energy from the sun. During photosynthesis, light energy is utilized to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen, with glucose serving as a vital source of energy and a building block for growth and development in plants.

Photosynthesis primarily takes place in the chloroplasts of plant cells, utilizing two main stages: the light-dependent reactions and the light-independent reactions (Calvin cycle). In the light-dependent reactions, chlorophyll absorbs sunlight, which drives the production of ATP and NADPH, energy-rich molecules. In the light-independent reactions, ATP and NADPH are then used to fix carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, ultimately leading to the synthesis of glucose.

In contrast, respiration refers to the metabolic process by which cells convert glucose and oxygen into carbon dioxide, water, and energy; fermentation involves anaerobic pathways of energy production; and glycolysis is the breakdown of glucose into pyruvate in the cytoplasm, which occurs regardless of the presence of oxygen. Each of these processes has distinct roles and mechanisms that differ fundamentally from the process of photosynthesis