Photosynthesis is the process by which green plants, algae, and some bacteria convert light energy, usually from the sun, into chemical energy in the form of glucose. This process involves the absorption of light by chlorophyll, a green pigment found in chloroplasts within plant cells, and the conversion of carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen. Photosynthesis is essential for the survival of plants and is also responsible for producing the oxygen we breathe.