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This question came up as I work my way through the answers to another question I just askedanother question I just asked.

My understanding is that plant photosynthesis looks something like this (though with lots more going on under the hood):

$$\ce{6 CO_2 + 6H_2O + light -> C_6 H_{12} O_6 (sugar) + 6 O_2}$$

(source) and that the primary functions of the sugar are to store and transport energy. If that's true, then there's something fishy about the familiar view that plants need CO2 to breathe and produce O2, while animals need O2 and produce CO2. Doesn't a plant need just as much O2 as an animal would when it (the plant) gets around to consuming the sugar it has produced? Doesn't consumption of the sugar take you back to the original reactants?

This question came up as I work my way through the answers to another question I just asked.

My understanding is that plant photosynthesis looks something like this (though with lots more going on under the hood):

$$\ce{6 CO_2 + 6H_2O + light -> C_6 H_{12} O_6 (sugar) + 6 O_2}$$

(source) and that the primary functions of the sugar are to store and transport energy. If that's true, then there's something fishy about the familiar view that plants need CO2 to breathe and produce O2, while animals need O2 and produce CO2. Doesn't a plant need just as much O2 as an animal would when it (the plant) gets around to consuming the sugar it has produced? Doesn't consumption of the sugar take you back to the original reactants?

This question came up as I work my way through the answers to another question I just asked.

My understanding is that plant photosynthesis looks something like this (though with lots more going on under the hood):

$$\ce{6 CO_2 + 6H_2O + light -> C_6 H_{12} O_6 (sugar) + 6 O_2}$$

(source) and that the primary functions of the sugar are to store and transport energy. If that's true, then there's something fishy about the familiar view that plants need CO2 to breathe and produce O2, while animals need O2 and produce CO2. Doesn't a plant need just as much O2 as an animal would when it (the plant) gets around to consuming the sugar it has produced? Doesn't consumption of the sugar take you back to the original reactants?

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WYSIWYG
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Do plants need O2O₂ to consume energy they've stored via sugar?

This question came up as I work my way through the answers to another question I just asked.

My understanding is that plant photosynthesis looks something like this (though with lots more going on under the hood):

$6 CO_2 + 6H_2O + light -> C_6 H_{12} O_6 (sugar) + 6 O_2$$$\ce{6 CO_2 + 6H_2O + light -> C_6 H_{12} O_6 (sugar) + 6 O_2}$$

(source) and that the primary functions of the sugar are to store and transport energy. If that's true, then there's something fishy about the familiar view that plants need $CO_2$CO2 to breathe and produce $O_2$O2, while animals need $O_2$O2 and produce $CO_2$CO2. Doesn't a plant need just as much $O_2$O2 as an animal would when it (the plant) gets around to consuming the sugar it has produced? Doesn't consumption of the sugar take you back to the original reactants?

Do plants need O2 to consume energy they've stored via sugar?

This question came up as I work my way through the answers to another question I just asked.

My understanding is that plant photosynthesis looks something like this (though with lots more going on under the hood):

$6 CO_2 + 6H_2O + light -> C_6 H_{12} O_6 (sugar) + 6 O_2$

(source) and that the primary functions of the sugar are to store and transport energy. If that's true, then there's something fishy about the familiar view that plants need $CO_2$ to breathe and produce $O_2$, while animals need $O_2$ and produce $CO_2$. Doesn't a plant need just as much $O_2$ as an animal would when it (the plant) gets around to consuming the sugar it has produced? Doesn't consumption of the sugar take you back to the original reactants?

Do plants need O₂ to consume energy they've stored via sugar?

This question came up as I work my way through the answers to another question I just asked.

My understanding is that plant photosynthesis looks something like this (though with lots more going on under the hood):

$$\ce{6 CO_2 + 6H_2O + light -> C_6 H_{12} O_6 (sugar) + 6 O_2}$$

(source) and that the primary functions of the sugar are to store and transport energy. If that's true, then there's something fishy about the familiar view that plants need CO2 to breathe and produce O2, while animals need O2 and produce CO2. Doesn't a plant need just as much O2 as an animal would when it (the plant) gets around to consuming the sugar it has produced? Doesn't consumption of the sugar take you back to the original reactants?

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kuzzooroo
kuzzooroo
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Do plants need O2 to consume energy they've stored via sugar?

This question came up as I work my way through the answers to another question I just asked.

My understanding is that plant photosynthesis looks something like this (though with lots more going on under the hood):

$6 CO_2 + 6H_2O + light -> C_6 H_{12} O_6 (sugar) + 6 O_2$

(source) and that the primary functions of the sugar are to store and transport energy. If that's true, then there's something fishy about the familiar view that plants need $CO_2$ to breathe and produce $O_2$, while animals need $O_2$ and produce $CO_2$. Doesn't a plant need just as much $O_2$ as an animal would when it (the plant) gets around to consuming the sugar it has produced? Doesn't consumption of the sugar take you back to the original reactants?