Photosynthesis is the process by which green plants, algae, and some bacteria convert light energy, usually from the sun, into chemical energy stored in glucose. This process occurs primarily in the chloroplasts of plant cells, using chlorophyll to capture light energy. During photosynthesis, carbon dioxide and water are transformed into glucose and oxygen, the latter being released as a byproduct. The overall reaction can be summarized by the equation: 6CO₂ + 6H₂O + light energy → C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂.