A plant respires, day and night
A plant makes food in sunlight. What does it do with that food?
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The idea
Respiration breaks down glucose using oxygen. It releases, or gives out, carbon dioxide, water and energy. The plant uses that energy to grow.
Every part of a plant respires, green or not. Seeds respire too. Their carbon dioxide turns lime water, a clear liquid, milky.
| Photosynthesis | Respiration | |
|---|---|---|
| Goes in | Carbon dioxide, water | Glucose, oxygen |
| Comes out | Glucose, oxygen | Carbon dioxide, water, energy |
| Needs | Sunlight, chlorophyll | Nothing extra |
Step 1 of 3
- At night: respiration only. Oxygen goes in.
- At noon: food-making runs too. In strong sunlight it makes more oxygen than respiration uses. Extra oxygen goes out.
- Respiration goes on both at night and at noon.