Question

part a
consider the model depicting the processes of photosynthesis and cellular
respiration. what is not implied in this model about the relationship between two
processes?
a matter is conserved throughout the processes.
b without plants, life on earth would not exist.
c solar energy is transformed into usable energy.
d carbon, oxygen and hydrogen are the key elements in both
processes.
part b
do plants need solar energy for photosynthesis? students wondered how
various types of light would impact this conceptual model. they grew plants in the
window in sunlight, on the counter in florescent light, and in a closet with no light.
they monitored the growth of the plants for three weeks and their results can be
seen here:

Explanation:

• Option A: In photosynthesis (\(6CO_{2}+6H_{2}O

ightarrow C_{6}H_{12}O_{6}+6O_{2}\)) and cellular respiration (\(C_{6}H_{12}O_{6}+6O_{2}
ightarrow6CO_{2}+6H_{2}O + ATP\)), matter is conserved as atoms are just rearranged.

• Option B: The model of photosynthesis and cellular respiration focuses on the chemical processes (reactants, products, energy transformation) between these two processes. It does not imply a statement about the existence of all life on Earth depending on plants. The model is more about the biochemical relationship rather than the ecological - existential relationship of all life to plants.
• Option C: In photosynthesis, solar energy is absorbed by chlorophyll and other pigments and transformed into chemical energy (stored in glucose). This chemical energy is then used in cellular respiration to produce ATP (usable energy for the cell).
• Option D: In \(CO_{2}\), \(H_{2}O\), \(C_{6}H_{12}O_{6}\), and \(O_{2}\) (key molecules in photosynthesis and cellular respiration), carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen are the main elements.

Answer:

B. Without plants, life on Earth would not exist.