Question
Question: Distinguish between photosynthesis and respiration....
Distinguish between photosynthesis and respiration.
Solution
Plants are also a biotic component of the environment as are animals and humans, therefore they also need food and oxygen for their survival. They do not get the food naturally; plants synthesize their food naturally by the process of photosynthesis. The process of respiration helps plants to get oxygen for their survival. Respiration provides plants the energy for various metabolic activities.
Complete answer:
| Photosynthesis | Respiration |
|---|---|
| It is the process in which plants use carbon dioxide and water molecules in the presence of sunlight and chlorophyll pigment to synthesize glucose and release oxygen.Jan Ingenhousz was the scientist who said that sunlight is essential for plants and it is the green parts only that release oxygen.The process of photosynthesis is completed in two steps, the light, and the dark reaction. The light reaction occurs in the membrane system of the chloroplast whereas the dark reaction occurs in the stroma of the chloroplast. The product of the light reaction, ATP, and NADPH is used by the dark reaction as its substrate to produce food for the plants i.e., glucose. | In this process, the food that was produced in photosynthesis is used up by the plant to produce energy. Here the food is oxidized and oxygen is reduced. The breaking of C-C bonds in the substrate produces a large amount of energy.During this process, oxygen is used and there is a release of energy along with carbon dioxide and water as a byproduct. The food (glucose) is broken down to pyruvic acid by the process of glycolysis. This process does not require any sunlight. |
Note: Here are some points to be noted about these two processes-
Photosynthesis is an anabolic process that requires energy and involves a redox process where organic compounds are synthesized. Photosynthesis occurs only in the presence of sunlight, i.e., during day time.
The process of respiration is called cellular respiration where there is a breakdown of food materials inside the cell to release energy and this energy is then used up by the plants to synthesize ATP.
Respiration is a catabolic process that can occur anytime, whether day or night.