The equation for photosynthesis 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​ This means six molecules of carbon dioxide and six molecules of water, using light energy (usually from the sun), are converted into one molecule of glucose (a sugar) and six molecules of oxygen. The glucose serves as food for the plant, and oxygen is released as a by-product