Which process involves converting sunlight into chemical energy in plants?

Photosynthesis is the fundamental process through which plants convert sunlight into chemical energy. During this process, chlorophyll in the chloroplasts of plant cells captures sunlight. This energy is then used to transform carbon dioxide from the air and water from the soil into glucose, a type of sugar that serves as chemical energy. Oxygen is released as a byproduct of this conversion, which is essential for the survival of most living organisms on Earth.

In photosynthesis, the light energy is stored in the bonds of glucose molecules, allowing plants to harness solar energy for growth, maintenance, and reproduction. This process not only supports the plant's energy needs but also forms the foundation of the food web, as plants serve as primary producers for herbivores and, subsequently, higher trophic levels. Thus, photosynthesis is crucial for converting solar energy into a form that can be utilized by living organisms.

The other processes mentioned play different roles: respiration involves breaking down glucose to release energy; decomposition entails the breakdown of organic matter returning nutrients to the ecosystem; and fermentation is a process that occurs in the absence of oxygen to produce energy from organic compounds. None of these processes directly convert sunlight into chemical energy like photosynthesis does.