Which of the following describes a function of chloroplasts?

Chloroplasts are organelles found in plant cells and some algae, and they are specifically responsible for the process of photosynthesis. During photosynthesis, chloroplasts capture sunlight and use it to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen. This process not only provides energy in the form of glucose for the plant itself but also generates oxygen as a byproduct, which is essential for life on Earth. The green pigment chlorophyll within chloroplasts plays a critical role in absorbing light energy.

Other options involve different cellular processes that do not occur in chloroplasts. Cellular respiration primarily takes place in the mitochondria, where energy stored in glucose is released. Protein production is largely a function of ribosomes, which synthesize proteins using amino acids. Energy release, while a result of metabolic processes, again pertains more to cellular respiration than to chloroplast activities. Therefore, photosynthesis is the defining function of chloroplasts.