CBSE Class 7 Answered

Hi Ananya,

Plants prepare their own food in the presence of sunlight and the green pigment chlorophyll by a process termed as photosynthesis.

The process of photosynthesis requires carbon dioxide, water, minerals, sunlight and chlorophyll.

During photosynthesis, chlorophyll containing cells of leaves use carbon dioxide and water in the presence of sunlight to synthesise carbohydrates along with the release of oxygen.

Carbohydrates ultimately get converted to starch, and hence, the presence of starch in leaves indicates the occurrence of photosynthesis.

6CO₂ + 6H₂O ------> C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O_{2
                          ^{Sunlight energy}}