What is the process called where plants convert sunlight into energy?

The process where plants convert sunlight into energy is known as photosynthesis. During photosynthesis, plants use sunlight, carbon dioxide from the air, and water from the soil to produce glucose and oxygen. The chlorophyll in plant leaves captures sunlight, which provides the energy needed to transform carbon dioxide and water into glucose, a form of sugar that plants use for growth and energy. This process is essential not only for the survival of plants but also for life on Earth, as it provides oxygen and forms the base of the food chain in most ecosystems.

The other processes listed serve different purposes in plants. Respiration is the process by which plants convert the energy stored in glucose into usable energy (ATP), while transpiration is the movement of water through a plant and its evaporation from aerial parts, mainly leaves. Fermentation is a metabolic process that occurs in the absence of oxygen, allowing certain organisms to convert sugars into energy, but it is not a primary process for plants in energy conversion. Thus, photosynthesis is the key process that directly relates to the conversion of sunlight into energy in plants.