What do chloroplasts primarily do?

Chloroplasts are the specialized organelles found in plant cells that play a crucial role in photosynthesis, the process by which plants use sunlight to create energy. Their primary function is to convert solar energy into chemical energy in the form of glucose, a sugar that plants use as food.

During photosynthesis, chloroplasts capture sunlight using a green pigment called chlorophyll. This energy is then used to transform carbon dioxide from the air and water from the soil into glucose and oxygen. The glucose produced provides energy for the plant to grow and thrive, while the oxygen is released into the atmosphere, benefiting other organisms.

While other options like storing nutrients or synthesizing DNA represent important biological functions, they do not pertain specifically to the role of chloroplasts. Additionally, chloroplasts do not have a role in gas exchange, such as breathing in oxygen, as that is primarily the function of leaves and their stomata.