Question

1. this sea grass has had the sun shining on it for most of the day. what can the sea grass do because it is in sunlight? what does this mean for the number of energy storage molecules in the sea grass? the sea grass can... a. take in carbon from the air. the carbon is used to break down energy storage molecules. b. take in carbon from the air. the carbon is used to make energy storage molecules. c. give off carbon to the air. giving off carbon allows the sea grass to make energy storage molecules. d. give off carbon to the air. giving off carbon uses up energy storage molecules.

Explanation:

Plants, including sea grass, perform photosynthesis when in sunlight. In photosynthesis, they take in carbon dioxide (\(CO_2\)) from the air. The carbon from \(CO_2\) is used to synthesize energy - storage molecules like glucose (\(C_6H_{12}O_6\)) through the process of photosynthesis (\(6CO_2 + 6H_2O
ightarrow C_6H_{12}O_6+6O_2\)).

Option a is incorrect because carbon is not used to break down energy - storage molecules in photosynthesis. Breaking down energy - storage molecules occurs in cellular respiration. Option c is incorrect because giving off carbon (as in cellular respiration) does not make energy - storage molecules. Option d is incorrect because giving off carbon (in cellular respiration) uses energy - storage molecules, but the question is about what happens when the sea grass is in sunlight (photosynthesis, which takes in carbon).

Answer:

B. take in carbon from the air. The carbon is used to make energy storage molecules.