Which process allows producers to convert solar energy and inorganic nutrients into chemical energy?

• A. Nitrogen fixation
• B. Photosynthesis
• C. Fermentation
• D. Cellular respiration

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the key terms in the question: 'producers,' 'solar energy,' 'inorganic nutrients,' and 'chemical energy.' Producers are organisms like plants, algae, and some bacteria that can create their own food.
2. Understand the process described: The question asks for the process that converts solar energy into chemical energy. This is a hallmark of photosynthesis, where light energy is used to synthesize organic molecules.
3. Eliminate incorrect options: Nitrogen fixation involves converting atmospheric nitrogen into a usable form for plants, which is unrelated to energy conversion. Fermentation is an anaerobic process that breaks down organic molecules for energy, and cellular respiration is the process of breaking down glucose to release energy, not creating it from solar energy.
4. Recall the photosynthesis equation: The general equation is: $6{\mathrm{CO}}_2+6H_{2}O+\mathrm{light}\to C{H}_{12}O{6}_{}+6O_2$. This shows how solar energy and inorganic nutrients (carbon dioxide and water) are converted into glucose (chemical energy) and oxygen.
5. Conclude that the correct answer is photosynthesis, as it directly matches the description of converting solar energy and inorganic nutrients into chemical energy.