Question

how does the photosynthesis equation and the cellular respiration equation explain why the total amount of O2 and CO2 remains the same?

Answer 1

Step-by-step explanation:

If you look at the photosynthesis equation, it goes:
`6CO_(2) + 6H_(2)O + sunlight -> C_(6) H_(12) O_(6) + 6O_(2)`

Now the cellular respiration equation goes:
`C_(6) H_(12) O_(6) + 6O_(2) -> 6CO_(2) + 6H_(2)O + ATP`

Do you see the similarity? The only difference in these two is that sunlight is replaced with ATP in the cellular respiration equation, and we can safely assume that the energy used and released in both are the same as the rest of the equations are identical.