Plants, containing chlorophyll, undergo the process of photosynthesis. In this process, plants consume carbon dioxide and water, in the presence of sunlight, and convert it to glucose and oxygen. Thus, plants convert the light energy of the sun to the chemical energy of glucose. The balanced chemical equation for the process of photosynthesis can be written as:
`6CO_2 + 6H_2O + sunlight -> C_6H_12O_6 + 6O_2`
In this reaction, 6 moles of carbon dioxide react with 6 moles of water, in the presence of sunlight, and form 1 mole of glucose and 6 moles of oxygen.
Photosynthesis is responsible for producing food for all the herbivores and is also the chief source of oxygen for all the aerobic lifeforms.
Note that photosynthesis can only take place in the presence of sunlight and hence occurs only during the daytime.
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