Here's why:
* Photosynthesis: Plants use sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to produce glucose (sugar) and oxygen. This process stores energy from the sun in the chemical bonds of glucose.
* Cellular Respiration: Plants (and all living things) break down glucose using oxygen to release the stored energy and create ATP (adenosine triphosphate), the energy currency of cells. This process occurs in the mitochondria of cells.
In essence, photosynthesis is about building food using sunlight, while cellular respiration is about breaking down that food to release energy for life processes.
