Approximately how much of the solar energy that falls on the leaves of a plant is converted to chemical energy by photosynthesis?

Options

A. Less than 1%
B. 2-10%
C. 0.3
D. 0.5

Explanation

To solve the question regarding the percentage of solar energy that is converted to chemical energy by photosynthesis, we can follow these steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding Photosynthesis**:
- Photosynthesis is the process by which plants convert solar energy into chemical energy in the form of glucose. This process primarily occurs in the leaves of plants, where chlorophyll captures sunlight.

2. **Identifying the Energy Conversion**:
- Not all solar energy that reaches the leaves is converted into chemical energy. The efficiency of this conversion is what we need to determine.

3. **Researching Conversion Efficiency**:
- Scientific studies indicate that the efficiency of solar energy conversion during photosynthesis is relatively low. It is estimated that only a small fraction of the solar energy is converted into chemical energy.

4. **Reviewing the Options**:
- The options provided are:
- Less than 1 percent
- 2 to 10 percent
- 0.3
- 0.5
- Based on the known efficiency rates, we can analyze these options.

5. **Selecting the Correct Answer**:
- The commonly accepted range for the percentage of solar energy converted to chemical energy by photosynthesis is approximately 2 to 10 percent. This aligns with scientific literature on the topic.

6. **Final Conclusion**:
- Therefore, the correct answer to the question is **2 to 10 percent**.