The term for the process of converting light energy into chemical energy is photosynthesis. This process occurs mainly in plants and some bacteria, where light energy is captured by chlorophyll and used to transform carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen. Photosynthesis is a vital ecological process as it forms the base of the food chain, providing energy for nearly all other organisms. Without photosynthesis, life as we know it would not be possible due to the lack of oxygen and organic compounds.