Which organelle processes light energy from the sun and converts it into sugar?

Which organelle processes light energy from the sun and converts it into sugar?

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

Answer: (C)

Chloroplasts capture light energy and convert it into chemical energy stored as sugar through photosynthesis. In the chloroplasts’ light-dependent reactions, light powers the splitting of water to release oxygen and to make ATP and NADPH. The Calvin cycle then uses those energy carriers to fix carbon dioxide into glucose, a form of sugar. Mitochondria, by contrast, use sugar to make ATP but don’t capture light. The nucleus houses genetic material, and ribosomes synthesize proteins. So the organelle that converts light energy into sugar is the chloroplast.

Chloroplasts capture light energy and convert it into chemical energy stored as sugar through photosynthesis. In the chloroplasts’ light-dependent reactions, light powers the splitting of water to release oxygen and to make ATP and NADPH. The Calvin cycle then uses those energy carriers to fix carbon dioxide into glucose, a form of sugar. Mitochondria, by contrast, use sugar to make ATP but don’t capture light. The nucleus houses genetic material, and ribosomes synthesize proteins. So the organelle that converts light energy into sugar is the chloroplast.