Final answer:
Photosynthesis and cellular respiration are opposite processes that recycle matter; photosynthesis converts light energy into glucose and oxygen, while cellular respiration uses these products to release energy.
Step-by-step explanation:
Photosynthesis and cellular respiration are considered opposite reactions. The matter is recycled between each process because the product of one reaction are the reactants of the other reaction. Photosynthesis involves two stages: the light-dependent reactions and the light-independent reactions, or the Calvin cycle. During the light-dependent reactions, energy from sunlight is absorbed by chlorophyll and converted into chemical energy, which is then used in the light-independent reactions to assemble sugar molecules from carbon dioxide.
In essence, photosynthesis uses light energy, carbon dioxide, and water to produce glucose and oxygen. The overall balanced chemical equation for photosynthesis is 6CO2 + 6H2O + Light Energy → C6H12O6 + 6O2. On the flip side, cellular respiration takes glucose and oxygen to produce carbon dioxide, water, and energy in the form of ATP (adenosine triphosphate). The simplified equation for cellular respiration is the reverse of photosynthesis: C6H12O6 + 6O2 → 6CO2 + 6H2O + Energy.
Both photosynthesis and cellular respiration play crucial roles in the energy cycle of living organisms. Photosynthesis converts solar energy into chemical energy stored in glucose, while cellular respiration breaks down glucose to release energy for cellular functions. They also work together to recycle oxygen in the Earth's atmosphere.