Chloroplasts are organelles found in plant cells and algae that contain chlorophyll and carry out photosynthesis. They have an outer and inner membrane that enclose sac-like structures called thylakoids, which are stacked to form grana. Inside the membranes is the stroma, a fluid that contains enzymes for the light-independent reactions of photosynthesis. Chloroplasts were first observed by Antony van Leeuwenhoek and are essential for converting the sun's energy into carbohydrates that plants use for food.