How Do Plants Use Carbon Dioxide?
Plants use carbon dioxide to produce food. Through photosynthesis, they convert carbon dioxide and water into sugar. They derive energy from the sun to transform carbon dioxide into glucose and oxygen.
Carbon dioxide in the air stimulates the growth of almost all plants on Earth. Photosynthesis primarily occurs in the leaves. This process requires sunlight, water and carbon dioxide, which are all acquired by and transported to the leaves. Plants obtain water through their roots, and they get sunlight through chlorophyll, which is a green pigment found in plant cell structures known as chloroplasts. There are several structures within the chloroplast, each with specific functions.
Plants absorb energy from sunlight to produce sugar that is used to energize themselves. They convert solar energy from the sun into chemical energy stored in the form of glucose (i.e. sugar). Along with sunlight and water, carbon dioxide is transformed into food for plants.
Through their leaves, plants acquire carbon dioxide and diffuse it through tiny holes in the underside of their leaves called stomata. The loose-fitting cells of the lower part of the leaves allow carbon dioxide to reach other cells in the leaves.
The role of plants in converting carbon dioxide into oxygen is essential for humans and other living beings that need oxygen. Plants provide food for humans and animals and control the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.