Which of the following statements about photosynthesis is correct?

• A. Photosynthesis occurs only at night when sunlight is not available.
• B. Photosynthesis primarily occurs in the chloroplasts of plant cells.
• C. Photosynthesis is the process by which plants break down glucose to release energy.
• D. Photosynthesis takes place mainly in the mitochondria of animal cells.

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Begin by understanding the process of photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is the process by which plants, algae, and some bacteria convert light energy into chemical energy stored in glucose. This process primarily occurs in the chloroplasts of plant cells.
2. Step 2: Evaluate the first statement: 'Photosynthesis occurs only at night when sunlight is not available.' This is incorrect because photosynthesis requires sunlight as an energy source to drive the light-dependent reactions.
3. Step 3: Evaluate the second statement: 'Photosynthesis primarily occurs in the chloroplasts of plant cells.' This is correct because chloroplasts contain chlorophyll, the pigment that captures light energy, and are the site of both the light-dependent and light-independent reactions of photosynthesis.
4. Step 4: Evaluate the third statement: 'Photosynthesis is the process by which plants break down glucose to release energy.' This is incorrect because breaking down glucose to release energy is cellular respiration, not photosynthesis.
5. Step 5: Evaluate the fourth statement: 'Photosynthesis takes place mainly in the mitochondria of animal cells.' This is incorrect because photosynthesis does not occur in animal cells, and mitochondria are the site of cellular respiration, not photosynthesis.