Question

In one or two sentences, explain how the chemical equation for cellular respiration shows that plants cycle matter. Includes a number of molecules and atoms involved to support your explanation. (2 points)

Answer 1

The balanced equation C6H12O6 + 6 O2 → 6 CO2 + 6 H2O shows that the six carbon atoms in one glucose molecule become six CO2 molecules, the 12 hydrogen atoms become six H2O molecules, and the 18 oxygen atoms (6 in glucose + 12 in 6 O2) are conserved on both sides. Because plants make glucose by photosynthesis and then oxidize it by cellular respiration, those same atoms are returned as CO2 and H2O and thus cycled through the ecosystem.