By definition, photosynthesis is a process by which photoautotrophs convert the

energy derived from the Sun into usable chemical energy. Light, water, chlorophyll,
and carbon dioxide are the basic requirements for this process.

Step 1
Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere enters the plant leaf through stomata, i.e., minute
epidermal pores in the leaves and stem of plants which facilitate the transfer of
various gases and water vapor.

Step 2
Water enters the leaves, primarily through the roots. These roots are especially
designed to draw the ground water and transport it to the leaves through the stem.

Step 3
As sunlight falls on the leaf surface, the chlorophyll, i.e., the green pigment present in
the plant leaf, traps the energy in it. Interestingly, the green color of the leaf is also
attributed to presence of chlorophyll.

Step 4
Then hydrogen and oxygen are produced by converting water using the energy
derived from the Sun. Hydrogen is combined with carbon dioxide in order to make
food for the plant, while oxygen is released through the stomata. Similarly, even algae
and bacteria use carbon dioxide and hydrogen to prepare food, while oxygen is let out
as a waste product.

The electrons from the chlorophyll molecules and protons from the water molecules
facilitate chemical reactions in the cell. These reactions produce ATP (adenosine
triphosphate), which provides energy for cellular reactions, and NADP (nicotinamide
adenine dinucleotide diphosphate), essential in plant metabolism.

The entire process can be explained by a single chemical formula.

6CO2 +12H2O + Light → C6H12O6 + 6O2+ 6H2O

While we take in oxygen and give out carbon dioxide to produce energy, plants take
in carbon dioxide and give out oxygen to produce energy.

Photosynthesis takes place in two stages of the light reactions and the dark reactions.
Cellular respiration involves aerobic (glycolysis) and anaerobic respiration.
Photosynthesis takes place only when there is sunlight. Cellular respiration occurs at
all times.
Photosynthesis takes place in plant leaves containing the chlorophyll pigment.
Cellular respiration takes place in the cytoplasm and mitochondria of the cell.
Photosynthesis utilizes sunlight to produce food molecules. Cellular respiration
utilizes glucose molecules to obtain energy-storing ATP molecules.
Photosynthesis uses water, sunlight, and carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to create
glucose molecules, and releases oxygen as a by-product. Cellular respiration uses
glucose molecules and oxygen to produce ATP molecules and carbon dioxide as the
by-product.
Photosynthesis involves conversion of one type of energy into another: light energy
into chemical energy. Cellular respiration involves using that chemical energy and
breaking it down to release energy.
Photosynthesis occurs only in plants and some bacteria. Cellular respiration takes
place in all types of living organisms.

Cellular respiration is a process that takes place within the cells of organisms where
energy is released by breaking down the chemical bonds of glucose (C6H12O6). The
energy released is in the form of ATP molecules that are used to carry out various
functions of the cell.

The cellular respiration equation is as follows:

C6H12O6 + O2 ――> H2O + CO2 + 36ATP

The process of respiration is divided into three major steps ― glycolysis,Krebs cycle,
and electron chain transport.

Glycolysis
Both plants and animals carry out the process of respiration, but only plants proceed
to another process called 'photosynthesis'. The process of glycolysis begins in the
cytoplasm of the cells and is completed in the mitochondria as you can see in the
diagram given above. The simple sugar molecules are broken down to energy or ATP
molecules.
Glycolysis means "splitting sugars". The breakdown of glucose molecule takes place
when carbon is oxidized and oxygen is reduced. Thus, the process is an oxidation-
reduction reaction. The glycolysis reaction leads to production of only two ATP
molecules in absence of oxygen. The other 34 ATP molecules are produced due to the
aerobic reaction in presence of oxygen.
Glycolysis can take place under aerobic and anaerobic cellular respiration conditions.
The glucose molecule is broken down into pyruvic acid or pyruvate in a series of
chemical reactions. The pyruvate molecule acts as an intermediate between two
processes, glycolysis and Krebs cycle.

Krebs Cycle
The Krebs cycle or the tricarboxylic acid cycle begins when the pyruvate molecule
moves cytosol to interior of mitochondrion. Here, the pyruvate is transformed and
combined with coenzyme A, a microenzyme that takes away one carbon and two
oxygen molecules to make Acetyl CoA. After a series of reactions, six CO2 molecules
and two ATP molecules along with acetyl CoA fragment are produced. Several
compounds known as nicotinamide dinucleotide (NAD) and flavin adenine
dinucleotide (FAD) that are capable of storing high-energy electrons are also
produced. This is cycle occurs only in the presence of oxygen. However, it doesn't use
the oxygen directly.
Electron Chain Transport
After successful completion of the Krebs cycle, begins the electron transport chain as
you can see in the diagram. This stage is where energy is released in bulk in the
process of cellular respiration. It requires direct use of oxygen molecules. This is also
known as the oxidative phosphorylation process. Electrons are passed from the
organic acids of Krebs cycle to the electron acceptor as shown in the diagram above.
This electron acceptor is the nictotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). After a series
of chain reaction in electron transport, the energy is transferred to the electron carriers
like the NADH and FADH2. Thus, finally leading to the production of ATP
molecules.

Summary of the Total ATP Yield

The total ATP yield are per glucose molecules as observed in diagram:
Glycolysis: Glycolysis yields two ATP and four NADH molecules. The four NADH
molecules are later converted in the mitochondria into four ATP molecules.
(Sometimes there may be a production of eight ATP molecules.)
Acetyl CoA: The formation of Acetyl CoA yields two NADH molecule. These two
NADH molecules are converted to six ATP molecules in the mitochondria.
Krebs Cycle: The Krebs cycle yields six NADH, two FADH2, and two ATP
molecules. The six NADH are converted to 18 ATP molecules, and two FADH2
molecules are converted to four ATP molecules.
Thus, the total ATP yield in the cellular respiration process is 36 or 38 ATP molecules.