Final answer:
Photosynthesis and respiration are two complementary natural processes. The former, carried out by plants, transforms light energy into chemical energy in the form of glucose, whereas the latter, carried out by animals, breaks down glucose to produce energy. Oxygen and carbon dioxide are key components of both processes.
Step-by-step explanation:
Photosynthesis and respiration are indeed vital natural processes. Photosynthesis is the biological process used by plants to convert light energy, usually from the sun, into chemical energy in the form of glucose, or sugar. This is generally summarized as: 6CO2 + 6H2O + light energy = C6H12O6 + 6O2.
Respiration, on the other hand, is the process by which organisms like animals break down glucose to produce energy, usually with the use of oxygen. This is often described as: C6H12O6 + 6O2 = 6CO2 + 6H20 + energy.
Both of these processes are complementary. The oxygen produced during photosynthesis is used in respiration, while the carbon dioxide produced in respiration is used in photosynthesis.
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