Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration Comparison
1. Write the chemical equation for photosynthesis. Write the chemical equation for
cellular respiration. What do you notice?
2. Fill in the following chart by placing a check mark () in the correct column(s) to
indicate whether the organisms perform photosynthesis, cellular respiration or
both:
Organism
Cyanobacteria
Animals
Fungi
Bacteria
Plants
Photosynthesis
Cellular Respiration
3. What gas is produced by photosynthesis? _____________________________
What gas is produced by cellular respiration? ___________________________
4. Where does photosynthesis and cellular respiration occur in a plant cell?
5. Green plants were exposed to increasing light intensity and the rate of
photosynthesis was measured. The graph shown below depicts the data
obtained.
a) When the light intensity is zero, what is the rate of photosynthesis?
Explain this result. (2 pts)
b) Explain what happens to the rate of photosynthesis as the light intensity
increases from zero to 1000 candelas. (1 pt)
c) What happens to the rate of photosynthesis when light intensity is 1500
candelas and higher? Suggest one hypothesis to explain this effect.
6. A fish was placed in a container of water, which was then sealed. Oxygen and
carbon dioxide levels were measured over time and are shown on the graph
below.
a) Explain what happened to the oxygen levels over time. Why did this
happen?
b) Explain what happened to the carbon dioxide levels over time. Why did
this happen?
7. Compare and contrast photosynthesis and chemosynthesis:
Process
Where does the energy to
fuel this process come
from?
What kind of substance or
organism is the “factory”
for this process?
What type of food is
produced in this process?
(& list elements present)
What is released to the
environment by the
organism as a result?
Photosynthesis
Chemosynthesis