During photosynthesis, what form of energy is transformed by plants?

• A. Sound energy into mechanical energy.
• B. Electrical energy into light energy.
• C. Light energy into chemical energy.
• D. Chemical energy into thermal energy.

Answer: (C)

Light energy from the sun is captured by chlorophyll in the plant’s leaves and used to power reactions that build sugars. The energy from the light is stored in the chemical bonds of those sugars, like glucose, so the plant has chemical energy to use for growth and other life processes. In photosynthesis, the input is light energy and the output is chemical energy stored in food molecules. Heat may be released during the process, but the main transformation is not to heat or sound or electricity; it is converting light energy into chemical energy.