How does broccoli make its own food?

Broccoli, like all plants, makes its own food through a process called photosynthesis. Here's how it works:

1. Sunlight: Broccoli leaves contain a green pigment called chlorophyll. Chlorophyll absorbs sunlight, which provides the energy for photosynthesis.

2. Carbon Dioxide: Broccoli takes in carbon dioxide from the air through tiny pores on its leaves called stomata.

3. Water: Broccoli absorbs water from the soil through its roots.

4. Chemical Reaction: Inside the leaves, chlorophyll uses the energy from sunlight to combine carbon dioxide and water into glucose. Glucose is a type of sugar that is broccoli's food.

5. Oxygen: As a byproduct of photosynthesis, broccoli releases oxygen back into the air through its stomata.

So, in essence, broccoli uses sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water to create its own food (glucose) and releases oxygen. This process is crucial for broccoli's growth and development.