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Can you give me a thorough explination of photosynthesis and cellular respiratio

ID: 12551 • Letter: C

Question

Can you give me a thorough explination of photosynthesis and cellular respiration?

Explanation / Answer

Cellular Respiration: sugar is broken down to CO2 and H2O, and in the process, ATP is made that can then be used for cellular work. The overall reaction for cellular respiration: C6H12O6 + 6O2 -------------------> 6CO2 + 6H2O + ~38 ATP Essentially, sugar (C6H12O6) is oxidized, down to CO2 and H2O, releasing energy (ATP) in the process. ALL cellular work (all the activities of life) requires energy, either from ATP or from related molecules. A lot of oxygen is required for this process. The sugar and the oxygen are delivered to your cells via your bloodstream. This process occurs partially in the cytoplasm, and partially in the mitochondria. Cellular respiration can be broken down into 4 stages: 1: Glycolysis ("splitting of sugar"): This step happens in the cytoplasm. One Glucose (C6H12O6) is broken down to 2 molecules of pyruvic acid. Results in the production of 2 ATPs for every glucose. 2: Transition Reaction: Pyruvic Acid is shuttled into the mitochondria, where it is converyed to a molecule called Acetyl CoA for further breakdown. 3: The Krebs Cycle, or Citric Acid Cycle: Occurs in the mitochondrial matrix, the liquid-y part of the mitochondria. In the presence of Oxygen gas (O2), all the hydrogens (H2) are stripped off the Acetyl CoA, two by two, to extract the electrons for making ATP, until there are no hydrogens left - and all that is left of the sugar is CO2 (a waste product) and H2O (exhale). The Krebs cycle results in the production of only 4 ATPs, but produces a lot of NADH. 4: The Electron Transport Chain and Chemiosmosis ("the big ATP payoff"). Occurs in the christae of the mirochondria, the folded membranes inside the chloroplast.Electrons from Hydrogen are carried by NADH and passed down an electron transport chain to result in the production of ATP. Results in the production of 32 ATPs for every glucose. Photosynthesis is a complex reaction.Essentially, using energy from the sun, a plant can transform carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen. In chemical terms: 6CO2 + 12H2O + Light -> C6H12O6 + 6O2+ 6H2O It is the the conversion of light energy into chemical energy in cells that contain chlorophyll, a green pigment. Photosynthesis occurs in most plants and algae and in some bacteria and protozoans. For photosynthesis to occur, water, carbon dioxide, chlorophyll, and light are necessary. Two main chemical reactions occur in photosynthesis. One takes place only in the presence of light and is called the light reaction; the other can occur with or without light and is called the dark reaction. The Light Reaction has the following steps: 1. Light enters a cell and is absorbed by chlorophyll. The light's energy raises the energy level of some chlorophyll electrons, freeing them from the chlorophyll molecules. 2. Molecules of water (H2O) from the environment take part in chemical reactions in the cell. Electrons from the hydrogen atoms in each of these water molecules are attracted to the chlorophyll molecules lacking the electrons freed in step 1. This attraction causes the water molecules to break apart into oxygen atoms, protons, and electrons. The oxygen atoms join together in pairs, forming molecules of oxygen. Oxygen molecules, called free oxygen, are released into the environment. 3. The electrons freed from the chlorophyll molecules and the protons freed from the water molecules take part in chemical reactions in the cell. These reactions result in the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide diphosphate (NADPH2). The Dark Reaction The chemical energy possessed by ATP and NADPH2 is used in making carbohydrates from hydrogen and carbon dioxide. (The carbon dioxide is obtained from the environment.) The carbohydrates then possess the chemical energy given up by ATP and NADPH2. The generalized, overall chemical equation for photosynthesis is: 6CO2+12H2O + light ? C6H12O6 + 6O2 + 6H2O The carbohydrate in this equation (C6H12O6) is glucose, a simple sugar. Glucose is only one of several compounds that can be formed by photosynthesis.

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