Which process is essential for converting solar energy into chemical energy in plants?

Photosynthesis is the process through which plants, algae, and some bacteria convert solar energy into chemical energy. During this process, chlorophyll, the green pigment in plants, captures sunlight and uses that energy to convert carbon dioxide from the air and water from the soil into glucose and oxygen. The glucose produced serves as an energy source for the plant, which can be used immediately for growth and energy or stored for later use. This transformation of solar energy into a stable chemical form is crucial for the survival of the plant and forms the basis of the food chain, as it provides energy for other organisms.

Respiration, while important for energy production at the cellular level, does not convert solar energy into chemical energy; rather, it breaks down glucose to release stored energy for the plant's use. Cell division pertains to the process by which cells replicate, and digestion involves the breakdown of food into smaller components, neither of which are related to the conversion of solar energy into chemical energy. Thus, photosynthesis stands out as the essential process for this conversion in plants.