7.3.1 Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration

Plants are amazing organisms in that they capture sunlight energy and convert it into usable energy through a process called photosynthesis. This happens in the chloroplasts.

CO2 + H2O + sunlight energy --> C6H12O6 + O2

Once this energy is stored as glucose, it can then be converted back into chemical energy (ATP) through a process called cellular respiration. This happens in the mitochondria.

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

Check out this nice little animation about how photosynthesis works:
http://earthguide.ucsd.edu/earthguide/diagrams/photosynthesis/photosynthesis.html

Here is a good description of how cellular respiration works:
http://www.sumanasinc.com/webcontent/animations/content/cellularrespiration.html