How Are Photosynthesis and Respiration Linked

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Photosynthesis and respiration are complete opposites, the only similarities is that they both produce energy. In photosynthesis the energy is produced when this reaction happens Sunlight Hydrogen + carbon dioxide Oxygen + Glucose 6CO2 + 6H2O C6H12O6 + 6O2 Glucose is made up of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen atoms. Glucose made by the process of photosynthesis may be used in three ways: 1. It can be converted into chemicals required for growth of plant cells such as cellulose 2. It can be converted into starch, a storage molecule, that can be converted back to glucose when the plant requires it 3. It can be broken down during the process of respiration, releasing energy stored in the glucose molecules In aerobic respiration energy is produced when this reaction happens Oxygen + glucose Carbon dioxide + water + Energy C6H12O6 + 6O2 → 6CO2 + 6H2O + energy The energy released by respiration is used to make large molecules from smaller ones. In plants, for example, sugars, nitrates and other nutrients are converted into amino acids. Amino acids can then join together to make proteins. The energy is also used: * To allow muscles to contract in animals * To maintain a constant body temperature in birds and mammals Respiration and photosynthesis can be linked as the result product can be used as a reactant in the other equation, this means that plants can have a constant supply of energy this means they don’t die in the night. The glucose that is made by photosynthesis can also lead to growth in animals when the animals eat the

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