Cellular Respiration and Photosynthesis

Photosynthesis is the process by which plants, some bacteria, and some protistans use the energy from sunlight to produce sugar, which cellular respiration converts into ATP, the fuel used by all living things. The conversion of unusable sunlight energy into usable chemical energy, is associated with the actions of the green pigment chlorophyll. Most of the time, the photosynthetic process uses water and releases the oxygen. Cellular respiration allows organisms to use (release) in the chemical bonds of glucose(C6H12O6). The energy in glucose is used to produce ATP. Cells use ATP to supply their energy needs. Cellular respiration is therefore a process in which the energy in glucose is transferred to ATP. In respiration, glucose is transferred to ATP. Oxidized and thus releases energy. Oxygen is reduced to form water. In Photosynthesis, plants use the suns energy as light to transform carbon dioxide and water into glucose. In cellular respiration, glucose is ultimately broken down to yield carbon dioxide and water, and the energy from this process is stored as ATP molecules. The equation for photosynthesis is: 6CO2 + 6H2O + energy 6O2 + C6H12O6 and cellular respiration is: 6O2 + C6H12O6 6H2O + 6CO2 + energy The reactants in the photosynthesis process stay on the left, they are 6 molecules of water (H2O) and 6 molecules of carbon dioxide. The products are 6 molecules of Oxygen and glucose. In the cellular respiration the reactants are 6 molecules of Oxygen and glucose, and the products are 6 molecules of water + 6 molecules of carbon dioxide. As we can see the cellular respiration is the opposite equation of the photosynthesis. All life depends on these reactions because we need oxygen, and this oxygen comes from the plants that releases it from photosynthesis. And we all need energy to function. We get this energy from the foods we eat. The most efficient way for cells to harvest energy stored in food is through cellular respiration.