Which set of resources is essential for plants to perform photosynthesis and grow?

• A. Light, water, carbon dioxide
• B. Soil, rocks, plastic
• C. Salt, sugar, oil
• D. Glass, metal, air

Answer: (A)

Plants need three things to carry out photosynthesis: light energy, carbon dioxide, and water. Light provides the energy to drive the chemical reactions inside chloroplasts. Water supplies the electrons and hydrogen atoms used to make glucose, while carbon dioxide provides the carbon backbone for that sugar. When all three are available, the plant can synthesize sugars and release oxygen, fueling growth.

Among the options, the combination that gives light, water, and carbon dioxide offers exactly what the plant needs to drive photosynthesis. The other sets include things that don’t supply these inputs or aren’t directly used in the photosynthetic process—soil, rocks, plastic; salt, sugar, oil; or glass, metal, air. That’s why the first set is essential for photosynthesis and growth.