- "photo" = light
- "synthesis" = putting together
put them together (with light energy and chlorophyll) to produce:
Oxygen is produced during photosynthesis to refill the oxygen that was used up by living things during respiration.
This cycle of photosynthesis and respiration maintains the balance of carbon dioxide and oxygen on earth.
- sugar (glucose)
- oxygen
Chlorophyll is the green pigment found in plants. Chlorophyll and light energy need to be present for photosynthesis to take place, but not used up in the process.
Sugar is produced and used by the plant for the life processes, the excess is transformed into starch and stored many plant parts.
Chlorophyll is the green pigment found in plants. Chlorophyll and light energy need to be present for photosynthesis to take place, but not used up in the process.
| carbon dioxide + water | chlorophyll →→→→→→→→ light energy | sugar (glucose) + oxygen |
Sugar is produced and used by the plant for the life processes, the excess is transformed into starch and stored many plant parts.
Oxygen is produced during photosynthesis to refill the oxygen that was used up by living things during respiration.
This cycle of photosynthesis and respiration maintains the balance of carbon dioxide and oxygen on earth.
| Photosynthesis | Respiration |
| Occurs in the presence of light (and chlorophyll in plant cells) | Occurs at all times in cells |
| Requires energy (light) to make sugar (glucose) | Releases energy from sugar |
| Complex substances (sugar) are formed from simpler ones. | Complex substances (sugar) are broken down into simpler ones. |
| Carbon dioxide and water are the raw materials. | Carbon dioxide and water are the waste products. |
| Oxygen is given out. | Oxygen is taken in. |
What are the differences between respiration (in plants) and photosynthesis?
Plants and other living organisms, need to store chemical energy to perform their life functions: to grow, transport nutrients, reproduce and protect themselves. They use oxygen from the air and the sugars that they stored inside, to make carbon dioxide and water. Plants perform a reverse reaction, which converts carbon dioxide, water and other nutrients found in the soil into sugars and oxygen, with photosynthesis, by the molecule chlorophyll.
Plants can only do photosynthesis during the daytime. They still do respiration in order to use stored energy and survive during the winter times.
Plants can only do photosynthesis during the daytime. They still do respiration in order to use stored energy and survive during the winter times.
