What is the relationship between photosynthesis and cellular respiration in plant cells?

Plants release oxygen which is a by-product of photosynthesis, and we breathe in oxygen so that our cells can carry out cellular respiration and generate ATP.

Respiration and photosynthesis are biological reactions in the environment that complement each other. Both are similar reactions that occur in a specific manner. In the process of respiration, oxygen and glucose yield water and carbon dioxide, while carbon dioxide and water yield glucose and oxygen during the process of photosynthesis.

Both cellular respiration and photosynthesis are parts of a mutually beneficial relationship.  Photosynthesis cannot occur without cellular respiration and cellular respiration certainly cannot occur without photosynthesis.

Photosynthesis and cellular respiration are in many respects the “reverse” of one another. Photosynthesis is an anabolic process, whereas cellular respiration is a catabolic process. Let us explore more differences between cellular respiration and photosynthesis

What is the relationship between photosynthesis and cellular respiration in plant cells?

Cellular Respiration Photosynthesis
Occurs in all living organisms. Occurs only in phototrophs (all green plants, algae and some bacteria).
The entire process occurs in Mitochondria. The entire process occurs in Chloroplasts.
Glucose and oxygen are the reactants of this process. Carbon dioxide, water and light energy are the reactants of this process.
Carbon dioxide, water, and energy (ATP) are the by-products. Glucose, oxygen and water are the by-products.
Undergoes Catabolic Process. Undergoes Anabolic Process.
Oxygen is taken in and carbon dioxide is liberated out. Producing food and capturing energy.
In this process, food particles are broken down to release energy. In this process, food is synthesized by capturing energy.
It is an exergonic reaction as energy is released. It is an endothermic reaction as it requires energy.
This process does not require sunlight since cellular respiration occurs all the time. This process requires sunlight since photosynthesis occurs only in the presence of sunlight.

The chemical reaction of cellular Respiration is                       C6H12O6 + 6O2 → 6CO2 + 6H2O

The chemical reaction of photosynthesis is                 6CO2 + 6H2O → C6H12O6+ 6O2

Also Read: Aerobic Respiration

To know more about cellular respiration and photosynthesis, visit BYJU’S.

What is the relationship between photosynthesis and cellular respiration in plant cells?

The processes of photosynthesis and cellular respiration are linked to each other. It is important to understand the differences between the two.

Photosynthesis and cellular respiration are the life processes performed by most living organisms to obtain usable energy from nature. While photosynthesis is performed by most plants which can prepare their own food, most animals fulfill their energy requirements through cellular respiration.

Photosynthesis is the process by which plant cells convert light energy from the sun into chemical energy, so as to create energy-rich carbohydrate molecules like glucose. Cellular respiration is the process of breaking down food molecules to obtain energy and store it in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) molecules.

Plant cells, after creating sugar molecules through photosynthesis, undergo cellular respiration to create ATP molecules. Animals obtain food molecules from plants and other organisms, and then undergo cellular respiration to obtain ATP molecules. All living organisms utilize these stored ATP molecules to carry out their metabolic processes.

Photosynthesis

What is the relationship between photosynthesis and cellular respiration in plant cells?

Photosynthesis takes place in the cells of plant leaves. It occurs in structures called chloroplasts, which contain chlorophyll. The plant cells absorb light from the sun through the pigment chlorophyll, and using water and carbon dioxide obtained from the environment. They undergo a series of chemical reactions to produce carbohydrate molecules.

Chemical reaction in Photosynthesis

What is the relationship between photosynthesis and cellular respiration in plant cells?

Carbon Dioxide + Water + Sunlight → Glucose + Oxygen

Stages in the Process of Photosynthesis

Light-dependent Reactions

This is the first stage of the photosynthetic process. These reactions take place in the presence of sunlight, and use light energy from the sun to produce ATP molecules and other molecules known as NADPH. These molecules are used as the energy source to carry out the chemical changes in the next stage of photosynthesis.

Light-independent Reactions (Calvin Cycle)

What is the relationship between photosynthesis and cellular respiration in plant cells?

In this stage of photosynthesis, energy-containing sugar molecules are synthesized. The ATP and NADPH produced are used to fuel the reactions in this stage. Here, CO2 molecules are broken down and converted into sugars and other compounds. The Calvin Cycle is repeated twice in order to yield one molecule of glucose.

Cellular Respiration

Cellular respiration takes place in the same way in both plants and animals. Living cells obtain the products of photosynthesis (sugar molecules) and undergo cellular respiration to produce ATP molecules. Some cells respire aerobically, using oxygen, while others undergo anaerobic respiration, without using oxygen. The process involves a set of chemical reactions to convert chemical energy from the glucose molecules into ATP molecules.

Chemical reaction in Cellular Respiration

What is the relationship between photosynthesis and cellular respiration in plant cells?

Glucose + Oxygen → Carbon dioxide + Water + Energy (ATP)

Stages in the Process of Cellular Respiration

Glycolysis

What is the relationship between photosynthesis and cellular respiration in plant cells?

Cellular respiration begins at this stage in the cytoplasm of the cells, and yields 2 carbon-based molecules called pyruvate, and 2 molecules of ATP. Oxygen plays no part during this stage, so it is called anaerobic respiration.

Aerobic Respiration

This process takes place in specialized structures within the cell called mitochondria, and uses the products of glycolysis, the pyruvate molecules, to release energy, along with CO2 and water as the by-products of the reaction. The energy released is stored in the form of ATP molecules. Usually, a total of 38 ATP molecules is produced.

Differences between Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration

  • Photosynthesis takes place in two stages of the light reactions and the dark reactions. Cellular respiration involves aerobic (glycolysis) and anaerobic respiration.
  • Photosynthesis takes place only when there is sunlight. Cellular respiration occurs at all times.
  • Photosynthesis takes place in plant leaves containing the chlorophyll pigment. Cellular respiration takes place in the cytoplasm and mitochondria of the cell.
  • Photosynthesis utilizes sunlight to produce food molecules. Cellular respiration utilizes glucose molecules to obtain energy-storing ATP molecules.
  • Photosynthesis uses water, sunlight, and carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to create glucose molecules, and releases oxygen as a by-product. Cellular respiration uses glucose molecules and oxygen to produce ATP molecules and carbon dioxide as the by-product.
  • Photosynthesis involves conversion of one type of energy into another: light energy into chemical energy. Cellular respiration involves using that chemical energy and breaking it down to release energy.
  • Photosynthesis occurs only in plants and some bacteria. Cellular respiration takes place in all types of living organisms.

What is the relationship between photosynthesis and cellular respiration in plants?

Photosynthesis converts carbon dioxide and water into oxygen and glucose. Glucose is used as food by the plant and oxygen is a by-product. Cellular respiration converts oxygen and glucose into water and carbon dioxide. Water and carbon dioxide are by- products and ATP is energy that is transformed from the process.

What is the relationship between the photosynthesis and cellular respiration equation?

The products of one process are the reactants of the other. Notice that the equation for cellular respiration is the direct opposite of photosynthesis: Cellular Respiration: C6H12O6 + 6O2 → 6CO2 + 6H2O. Photosynthesis: 6CO2 + 6H2O → C6H12O6+ 6O.

What is the relationship between cellular respiration and photosynthesis quizlet?

What is the relationship between photosynthesis and cellular respiration? Photosynthesis removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and cellular respiration puts it back. Photosynthesis releases oxygen into the atmosphere, and cellular respiration uses that oxygen to release energy from food.