Photosynthesis and Respiration What is photosynthesis A chemical

Photosynthesis and Respiration

What is photosynthesis? • A chemical reaction that occurs in plants that changes light energy to chemical energy • Energy is stored as sugar • Occurs in plants and some algae • Takes place in chloroplasts in the chlorophyll

What happens during photosynthesis? • Plants capture light energy and use it to make glucose • Sunlight provides the energy to change molecules of carbon dioxide and water into glucose • Oxygen is a byproduct and is released during this process

The photosynthesis recipe LIGHT ENERGY Carbon Dioxide + water REACTANTS Glucose + oxygen PRODUCTS

The equation of the chemical reaction photosynthesis LIGHT ENERGY 6 CO 2 + 6 H 2 O REACTANTS C 6 H 12 O 6 + 6 O 2 PRODUCTS

Why is this important to us? • We cannot make our own food, and depend on producers such as plants to provide glucose and energy • Plants are the first part of food chains, and an integral (important) part of food webs • Without producers, consumers would not be able to get energy, and would most likely die

What about the oxygen released? • This becomes part of the air that we breathe, and is necessary for all living things

From the producer to the consumer… • Once the energy from the sunlight is converted into chemical energy by photosynthesis, an organism has to transfer that energy into a usable form, called ATP • Transferring the energy into a usable form is called cellular respiration

Cellular Respiration • Takes place in the cells and mitochondria of all living things • That means Animals AND Plants • Is a step by step process that breaks down glucose molecules to release energy

The recipe for cellular respiration Glucose + oxygen REACTANTS Carbon Dioxide + water + ENERGY PRODUCTS

The chemical equation for cellular respiration is C 6 H 12 O 6 + 6 O 2 6 CO 2 + 6 H 2 O + ENERGY REACTANTS PRODUCTS

Aerobic Respiration • Organisms that use Oxygen to free the energy from their food are said to use Aerobic Respiration • Aerobic means “using oxygen”

Anaerobic Respiration • Organisms that do not use oxygen but have developed another way to release the energy from their food are said to use Anaerobic Respiration. • Remember that the prefix A- or An- means NOT so Anaerobic means “not aerobic” or without oxygen.