1. Energy Flow:
* Photosynthesis: Stores energy from sunlight, converting it into chemical energy in the form of glucose (sugar).
* Cellular Respiration: Releases energy from glucose, converting it into a usable form of energy (ATP) for the cell.
2. Reactants and Products:
* Photosynthesis: Uses carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O) as reactants, and produces glucose (C6H12O6) and oxygen (O2) as products.
* Cellular Respiration: Uses glucose (C6H12O6) and oxygen (O2) as reactants, and produces carbon dioxide (CO2), water (H2O), and energy (ATP) as products.
Essentially, photosynthesis builds sugar using sunlight, while respiration breaks down sugar to release energy. They are complementary processes, with the products of one serving as the reactants for the other.
