Explain how the chemical equation for cellular respiration shows that plants cycle matter

Answer 1

The chemical equation for cellular respiration is:

C6H12O6 + 6O2 -> 6CO2 + 6H2O + ATP

This equation shows that plants take in glucose (C6H12O6) and oxygen (O2) and produce carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O) as waste products. This process releases energy in the form of ATP, necessary for the plant's metabolic functions.

Through this process of cellular respiration, plants break down organic molecules to obtain energy, releasing carbon dioxide and water as byproducts. These byproducts are then used by plants for photosynthesis, where they convert carbon dioxide and water back into glucose and oxygen, completing the cycle of matter in the ecosystem.

In this way, the chemical equation for cellular respiration in plants demonstrates how matter is cycled through ecosystems, as plants both consume and produce the same molecules in a continuous cycle. This cycle of matter is essential for sustaining life on Earth.