Question

1. challenge: in the process of photosynthesis, plants use carbon dioxide (co₂), water (h₂o), and light energy to produce a sugar (c₆h₁₂o₆) and oxygen (o₂). in the process of aerobic respiration, animals and plants release energy from sugar and oxygen and produce carbon dioxide and water. the chemical equations that describe these reactions look like this: 6co₂ + 6h₂o + light → c₆h₁₂o6 + 6o₂ c₆h₁₂o6 + 6o₂ → 6co₂ + 6h₂o + energy how do these equations explain why the total amount of o₂ and co₂ remains the same?

Explanation:

In photosynthesis, \(6CO_2\) are consumed and \(6O_2\) are produced. In aerobic respiration, \(6O_2\) are consumed and \(6CO_2\) are produced. The amount of \(CO_2\) consumed in photosynthesis is equal to the amount of \(CO_2\) produced in respiration. Similarly, the amount of \(O_2\) produced in photosynthesis is equal to the amount of \(O_2\) consumed in respiration.

Answer:

The equations show that the amount of \(CO_2\) used in photosynthesis is the same as the amount of \(CO_2\) produced in aerobic respiration (\(6CO_2\) in each case). Also, the amount of \(O_2\) produced in photosynthesis (\(6O_2\)) is the same as the amount of \(O_2\) used in aerobic respiration (\(6O_2\)). So, the total amount of \(O_2\) and \(CO_2\) remains the same.