What is happening in the following chemical equations?

Question

6co2 + 6h2o + sunlight -> c6 h12 o6 + 6o2
C6 h12 o(Glucose) + 6o2(Oxygen) -> 6co2(Carbon Dioxide) + 6h2o(Water) + atp(Energy)

Answer 1

The chemical equations you provided represent two important biological processes: photosynthesis and cellular respiration.

1. Photosynthesis: The first equation is:

   \[ 6 \text{CO}_2 + 6 \text{H}_2\text{O} + \text{sunlight} \rightarrow \text{C}6\text{H}{12}\text{O}_6 + 6 \text{O}_2 \]

   • Reactants:

     • \( \text{CO}_2 \) (Carbon Dioxide): Plants take in carbon dioxide from the air.
     • \( \text{H}_2\text{O} \) (Water): Plants absorb water from the soil through their roots.
     • Sunlight: Light energy (usually from the sun) is absorbed by chlorophyll in the leaves.

   • Products:

     • \( \text{C}6\text{H}{12}\text{O}_6 \) (Glucose): This simple sugar is produced and serves as an energy source for the plant.
     • \( \text{O}_2 \) (Oxygen): Oxygen is released as a byproduct and is essential for most living organisms.

   • Process: Photosynthesis occurs in the chloroplasts of plant cells, where light energy is converted into chemical energy stored in glucose. This process is critical for converting solar energy into a form that can be utilized by living organisms.

2. Cellular Respiration: The second equation is:

   \[ \text{C}6\text{H}{12}\text{O}_6 + 6 \text{O}_2 \rightarrow 6 \text{CO}_2 + 6 \text{H}_2\text{O} + \text{ATP} \]

   • Reactants:

     • \( \text{C}6\text{H}{12}\text{O}_6 \) (Glucose): The glucose produced in photosynthesis is used as a fuel source.
     • \( \text{O}_2 \) (Oxygen): Oxygen is taken in by organisms during respiration.

   • Products:

     • \( \text{CO}_2 \) (Carbon Dioxide): Carbon dioxide is released as a byproduct.
     • \( \text{H}_2\text{O} \) (Water): Water is another byproduct of this process.
     • ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate): This is the energy currency of the cell, produced through cellular respiration.

   • Process: Cellular respiration occurs in the mitochondria of cells and involves multiple stages (glycolysis, the Krebs cycle, and oxidative phosphorylation) to convert the chemical energy stored in glucose into ATP. It is a crucial process for providing energy to power all cellular activities in organisms.

In summary, photosynthesis converts solar energy into chemical energy stored in glucose, while cellular respiration releases that energy for use by organism cells, producing carbon dioxide and water as byproducts. These two processes are interconnected and form a cycle that sustains life on Earth.