where light energy, oxygen, sugar (glucose), water, and carbon dioxide enter or leave the plant. One of those is made in the plant and does not enter or leave.
The process of photosynthesis occurs within the chloroplasts of plant cells, where light energy, carbon dioxide, and water are used to produce glucose and oxygen. Oxygen is released as a byproduct of photosynthesis and exits the plant through tiny pores called stomata. Light energy is absorbed by chlorophyll and converted into chemical energy in the form of glucose, which is used by the plant for growth and energy. Water is absorbed by the plant's roots and transported to the chloroplasts, where it is split into hydrogen and oxygen during the light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis. Carbon dioxide is taken in from the atmosphere through the stomata and used to produce glucose during the Calvin cycle. Overall, photosynthesis is the crucial process through which plants produce their own food and release oxygen into the environment.
