Final answer:
Chloroplasts are responsible for photosynthesis in plants and algae, where chlorophyll captures sunlight energy and converts it into chemical energy stored in ATP and NADPH.
Step-by-step explanation:
The main role of chloroplasts is to conduct photosynthesis, where the photosynthetic pigment chlorophyll captures the energy from sunlight and converts it and stores it in the energy-storage molecules ATP and NADPH while freeing oxygen from water. Chloroplasts are unique to photoautotrophic eukaryotes such as plants and algae and contain a green pigment called chlorophyll, which is essential for capturing solar energy. The intricate process of photosynthesis begins when chlorophyll absorbs light energy, which is then transformed into chemical energy stored in molecules of ATP and NADPH. The chloroplasts consist of an organized system of pigments, enzymes, and electron transport chains that enables the light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis. These reactions take place within the thylakoid membranes, resulting in the production of energy storage molecules that are subsequently used in the Calvin cycle to create glucose.