Chloroplast - GCSE Biology Definition

A chloroplast is a special part of a plant cell that helps it make its own food. It is found mainly in the green parts of plants, like leaves, and is responsible for photosynthesis, the process by which plants convert light energy into chemical energy. Chloroplasts contain a green substance called chlorophyll, which captures sunlight. Using water and carbon dioxide, they turn this light energy into glucose, a type of sugar that plants use for food, and oxygen, which is released into the air. Understanding chloroplasts is important because they play a crucial role in keeping plants alive and providing oxygen, which all living things need to respire.