Which organelle is primarily responsible for converting light energy into chemical energy in plant cells?

Which organelle is primarily responsible for converting light energy into chemical energy in plant cells?

• A. Mitochondrion
• B. Nucleus
• C. Chloroplast
• D. Ribosome

Answer: (C)

Light energy is captured and converted into chemical energy inside chloroplasts through photosynthesis. Chloroplasts house chlorophyll pigments that absorb light and drive the light-dependent reactions, producing ATP and NADPH. Those energy carriers power the Calvin cycle, which fixes carbon dioxide into sugars. This is how light energy becomes chemical energy stored in carbohydrate molecules. Mitochondria, in contrast, use chemical energy from sugars to produce ATP, not light energy directly; nuclei store genetic information and control activities, and ribosomes make proteins.

Light energy is captured and converted into chemical energy inside chloroplasts through photosynthesis. Chloroplasts house chlorophyll pigments that absorb light and drive the light-dependent reactions, producing ATP and NADPH. Those energy carriers power the Calvin cycle, which fixes carbon dioxide into sugars. This is how light energy becomes chemical energy stored in carbohydrate molecules. Mitochondria, in contrast, use chemical energy from sugars to produce ATP, not light energy directly; nuclei store genetic information and control activities, and ribosomes make proteins.