Question

in one sentence explain how the chemical equation for cellular respiration shows that plants cycle matter. include the numbers of molecules and atoms involved to support your explanation. write it as a 6th grader

Answer 1

The equation for cellular respiration, C6H12O6 + 6 O2 → 6 CO2 + 6 H2O + energy, shows plants cycle matter because 1 glucose (C6H12O6 = 6 carbon, 12 hydrogen, 6 oxygen atoms) plus 6 O2 (12 oxygen atoms) is rearranged into 6 CO2 (6 carbon, 12 oxygen atoms) and 6 H2O (12 hydrogen, 6 oxygen atoms), so the same 6 C, 12 H and 18 O atoms are just moved into new molecules that plants can use again.