What is the difference between photosynthesis versus cellular respiration?

1 Answer
Mar 10, 2018

Well, they are kind of opposites...

Explanation:

Photosynthesis is the way which plants make food for themselves from raw materials and light energy, and make chemical energy in the process.

Respiration uses that energy (glucose and sugar) to produce #ATP# for the cells to use.

They are like opposite of each other.

The chemical equation for photosynthesis is:

#6CO_2(g)+6H_2O(l)stackrel"sunlight"stackrel"chlorophyll"->C_6H_12O_6(aq)+6O_2(g)#

The chemical equation for aerobic cellular respiration is:

#C_6H_12O_6(aq)+6O_2(g)->6CO_2(g)+6H_2O(l)#

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cellular_respiration

https://www.livescience.com/51720-photosynthesis.html