Final answer:
Yes, photosynthesis and cellular respiration are inverse reactions as they utilize opposite chemical reactions, forming a cycle that is essential for life. They convert each other's products into reactants, sustaining the Earth's carbon cycle and energy flow within ecosystems.
Step-by-step explanation:
Photosynthesis and cellular respiration are indeed inverse reactions of each other. A) Yes, they are inverse because they have opposite chemical reactions is the correct answer. During photosynthesis, energy from the sun is utilized by plants to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen. This process occurs in the chloroplasts. Conversely, cellular respiration takes place in the mitochondria, where glucose and oxygen are metabolized to produce carbon dioxide, water, and ATP—the energy currency of the cell. Essentially, the products of photosynthesis serve as the reactants for cellular respiration and vice versa, forming a cycle essential for life on Earth.
This relationship between the two processes helps regulate atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide and oxygen, contributing to the Earth's carbon cycle. Photosynthesis is responsible for producing the oxygen we breathe and the glucose that provides energy, whereas cellular respiration is essential for breaking down glucose to release energy that powers cellular activities.