Which gas do plants take in during the process of photosynthesis?

During photosynthesis, plants take in carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere. This process primarily occurs in the leaves, where specialized cells contain chloroplasts. Inside the chloroplasts, carbon dioxide is used in combination with sunlight and water to produce glucose and oxygen.

The intake of carbon dioxide is essential because it provides the carbon atoms needed to form the glucose molecules, which serve as an energy source for the plant. The overall chemical reaction can be summarized as:

6 CO2 + 6 H2O + light energy → C6H12O6 + 6 O2.

This illustrates that carbon dioxide is a fundamental component of photosynthesis, enabling plants to transform light energy into chemical energy stored in glucose. Through this process, plants also release oxygen back into the atmosphere, which is crucial for the survival of most living organisms.