What is the process by which plants make their food?

Plants make their food through the process of photosynthesis, which occurs primarily in their leaves. This process uses sunlight, carbon dioxide from the air, and water from the soil to produce glucose (a type of sugar) and oxygen. Chlorophyll, the green pigment in plants, captures light energy from the sun, which drives the chemical reactions that convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose. The glucose produced not only serves as an energy source for the plants but is also vital for their growth and development.

The other processes listed play different roles: respiration involves breaking down glucose to produce energy; transpiration is the process of water movement through a plant and its evaporation from aerial parts, primarily leaves; while digestion refers specifically to the breakdown of food in animals. Each of these processes is crucial to life, but photosynthesis is unique because it is how plants create their own food.