Relations Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration

Relations Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration

TOPICS: Relationship Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration



Relations Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration




Photosynthesis and cellular respiration are two biochemical reactions which have an important role to play when it comes to life on planet Earth. While photosynthesis is the process by which plants absorb energy directly from the sun to prepare their own meals, cellular respiration refers to the process by which the energy stored in plants in the form of glucose used by organisms for their own survival. The basic rule that energy can neither be created nor destroyed, but can only be transferred from one form to another, applies to one of the biochemical reactions.
Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration

While both plants and animals resort to respiration, photosynthesis is limited to green plants and some other organisms. This - however, it does not mean that the latter is only useful for plants and other organisms that are directly involved. Both of these processes is important for all kinds of living creatures on this planet - either directly or indirectly, because they relate to one another. In order to understand how photosynthesis associated with cell respiration, one must get well-versed with the basics of each.

Photosynthesis: Photosynthesis is a process by which the synthesis of sugar (glucose) was performed using sunlight (which acts as an energy radiation), carbon dioxide and water. Simply put, photosynthesis is a chemical process by which plants, algae and some bacteria species produce their own food using sunlight, carbon dioxide and water. Chemical equation for photosynthesis 6CO2 + 6H2O + light energy → C6H12O6 + 6O2, where the carbon dioxide (CO2), water (H2O) and sunlight are the reactants and glucose (C6H12O6) and oxygen (O2) is a product of photosynthesis.
Cellular respiration: In the process of cellular respiration, biochemical energy derived from nutrients converted to adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which is required for these organisms to facilitate various functions of life. Simply put, cellular respiration is a metabolic process in which chemical bonds of glucose derived from food is converted into energy that is used by some organisms - including us humans, for various life processes. Chemical equation for cellular respiration is C6H12O6 + 6O2 → 6CO2 + 6H2O + Energy released (2830 kJ mol-1); in which glucose (C6H12O6) and oxygen (O2) is the reactant, while carbon dioxide (CO2), water (H2O) and energy products.
How Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration Related?

In the information from each of the two processes, you should be aware that the product of the process is the other reactant - and vice versa. Glucose and oxygen (although a bi-product) - which happens to be a product of photosynthesis, which are needed to facilitate cellular respiration, while carbon dioxide - which is a bi-product of cellular respiration, is required to facilitate the process of photosynthesis. It is a fact that very form the basis of the relationship between cellular respiration and photosynthesis. In other words, plants and other lifeforms who resort to photosynthetic organisms that depend on the resort for cellular respiration to carbon dioxide, and all of these organisms - in turn, depends on the glucose that they are derived from plants for their energy needs. The fact that both resort to 'electron transport chain' when it comes to the movement of electrons may be one of the most prominent similarities between photosynthesis and cellular respiration.
Photosynthesis-cellular respiration relationship also explains why two are needed for the existence of life on this planet. To summarize the whole relationship, radiant energy from the sun is used to make glucose during photosynthesis, and the same glucose eventually be used to produce energy that can be used in the process of cellular respiration.
Tags: photosynthesis, cell respiration, plants