Green plants are the only living things that can make their own food. During the process of photosynthesis, the energy from the sun is turned into chemical energy. The chemical energy is used to join carbon dioxide and water. In the process, sugar and oxygen are created. This process takes place mainly in the leaves of the plant.
Leaves contain a substance called chlorophyll that traps the sun's energy.
The chlorophyll is a bright green colour, which explains why plants are green. The chart below shows a simple equation to illustrate the process of photosynthesis. The air enters the leaves through tiny holes called stomata. Plants get the water they require through their root systems in the soil. When energy from sunlight is available, the process of photosynthesis takes place.