The process of plants turning sunlight into energy is called photosynthesis. During photosynthesis, plants convert carbon dioxide from the air and water from the soil into glucose and oxygen using sunlight as an energy source. The chlorophyll pigments in plant leaves capture sunlight, enabling this transformation. Photosynthesis is crucial for life on Earth, as it not only provides food and energy for plants but also releases oxygen into the atmosphere, supporting the respiratory needs of most living organisms.