Photosynthesis and cellular respiration recycle oxygen inecosystems. Respond to
ID: 1346 • Letter: P
Question
Photosynthesis and cellular respiration recycle oxygen inecosystems. Respond to TWO (and only two) of the following:
a. Explain how the metabolic processes of cellular respirationand photosynthesis recycle
oxygen.
b. Trace a molecule of O2 from the environment to a musclecell in a vertebrate of your choice.
Explanation / Answer
a. The equation for cellular respiration is 6O2 +C6H12O6 -> 6H2O +6CO2 + energy. The equation for photosynthesis is 6CO2 +6H2O +energy -> 6O2 +C6H12O6. As you can see, cellular respiration and photosynthesis arebasically the backwards reaction of each other. This is how oxygencan be recycled. b. Oxygen is breathed in and sent to a muscle in a human body.Through oxidative phosphorylation the oxygen are used as electronacceptors in the mitochondria. They pull the electrons down theelectron transport chain in order to make ATP through an ATPsynthase. 2 hydrogen atoms attach to the oxygen atom to make waterwhich is released.