What is the series of processes in which light energy is converted into simple sugar called?

The series of processes in which light energy is converted into simple sugar is known as photosynthesis. During this process, plants, algae, and certain bacteria capture sunlight using chlorophyll and utilize it to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen. The glucose produced serves as an essential source of energy and a building block for growth and development in plants.

Photosynthesis occurs mainly in the chloroplasts of plant cells and plays a crucial role in the ecosystem by serving as the foundation of the food chain. It not only provides energy for plants but also produces oxygen, which is vital for the survival of aerobic organisms, including humans.

The other processes listed do not fit this description. Respiration refers to the process by which organisms use oxygen to break down glucose for energy, which is essential for cellular metabolism. Fermentation is an anaerobic process that breaks down sugars without the presence of oxygen, typically resulting in alcohol or lactic acid, and transpiration involves the movement of water through plants and its evaporation from aerial parts, particularly leaves. These processes are complementary to photosynthesis but are fundamentally different in their purposes and mechanisms.