What is the process called that allows plants to take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen?

The process that allows plants to take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen is known as photosynthesis. During photosynthesis, plants utilize sunlight, carbon dioxide from the air, and water from the soil to produce glucose and oxygen. The overall reaction can be summarized by the equation:

[ 6CO_2 + 6H_2O \xrightarrow{\text{sunlight}} C_6H_{12}O_6 + 6O_2 ]

Here, carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O) are converted into glucose (C6H12O6), a form of energy storage for the plant, while oxygen (O2) is released as a byproduct.

This process is crucial for life on Earth, as it provides the oxygen needed by animals and humans for respiration and is a fundamental part of the carbon cycle. While respiration is about how organisms, including plants, convert glucose into energy and release carbon dioxide, it is not the process responsible for taking in carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen. Transpiration involves the movement of water within a plant and the evaporation of water from plant surfaces, and evaporation refers to the phase change of substances from a liquid to a gas, neither of which encompasses the