Is it true that photosynthesis and respiration are just opposite kind of reactions?

1 Answer

Cellular respiration could be aerobic or anaerobic. Here only former is considered.
Photosynthesis and aerobic respiration are kind of reverse reactions.

Explanation:

Photosynthesis is the process by which plants synthesize glucose sugar. Aerobic respiration is the process by which plants (as well as other organisms) oxidize glucose sugar to produce energy. Aerobic respiration is not possible without the oxygen which is produced by photosynthesis.

The products of photosynthesis are thus required reactants of cellular respiration; while the products of respiration are the reactants of photosynthesis. Each process depends on the other process.

# C_6H_12O_6 + 6O_2 == 6CO_2 + 6 H_2O# + energy
The equation for cellular respiration.

# 6 CO_2 + 6 H_2O # + energy # == C_6H_12O_6 + 6 O_2#
The equation for photosynthesis.