The process of synthesis of food in green plants is called photosynthesis. It involves green plants using chlorophyll (a green pigment in their leaves) to capture sunlight energy. This energy is then used to convert carbon dioxide from the air and water absorbed from the soil into glucose (a sugar used as food by the plant) and oxygen. The overall chemical reaction is: 6CO2+6H2O+light energy→C6H12O6+6O26\text{CO}_2+6\text{H}_2\text{O}+\text{light energy}\rightarrow \text{C}6\text{H}{12}\text{O}_6+6\text{O}_26CO2​+6H2​O+light energy→C6​H12​O6​+6O2​ Sunlight energy absorbed by chlorophyll drives this process in the chloroplasts of plant cells. The glucose produced serves as an energy source or can be stored for later use, while oxygen is released into the atmosphere. The intake of carbon dioxide happens through small openings in the leaves called stomata.