What is the word equation for photosynthesis?

Photosynthesis is the process used by plants, algae, and some bacteria to convert light energy into chemical energy stored in glucose. The correct word equation for photosynthesis captures this transformation accurately and reflects the essential components involved.

During photosynthesis, carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and water from the soil come together in the presence of sunlight and chlorophyll, the green pigment in plants. These inputs result in the creation of glucose, which serves as food for the plant, and oxygen, which is a byproduct released into the atmosphere. Therefore, the equation can be summarized as: carbon dioxide + water → sugar (glucose) + oxygen.

This process underscores the importance of plants in the ecosystem, as they produce the oxygen we breathe and form the basis of the food chain. Other options do not correctly represent the process of photosynthesis; for example, one option implies the breakdown of glucose, which relates instead to cellular respiration, while another suggests an incorrect combination of elements. Thus, the selected equation encompasses the fundamental aspects of photosynthesis.