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01. Grade 8 - Photosynthesis and Respiration (Notes)

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335 views5 pages

01. Grade 8 - Photosynthesis and Respiration (Notes)

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tasneemsalie364
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Grade 8 Natural Science 2025

PHOTOSYNTHESIS
ALL living organisms carry out ALL of the following 7 life processes:

M – Movement
R – Respiration (releasing energy from glucose)
S – Sensitivity to the environment
G – Growth
R – Reproduction
E – Excretion (removal of waste products)
N – Nutrition (feeding)

DEFINITION OF PHOTOSYNTHESIS:
Photosynthesis is a chemical reaction in which radiant energy (sunlight) from the sun
is converted into potential energy which is stored as sugars (glucose → starch) and
oxygen is released.

REQUIREMENTS FOR PHOTOSYNTHESIS:


1. Water:
 Is one of the reactants in the chemical reaction
 Plant roots absorb water from the soil

2. Carbon Dioxide:
 Is one of the reactants in the chemical reaction
 Plants absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere primarily through tiny
pores (holes) in their leaves called stomata.

3. Sunlight (radiant energy)


 The sun is the ultimate source of energy for all living things.
 The sun provides this energy in the form of light and heat which is known
as radiant energy.
 Radiant energy from the sun is converted into potential (stored) energy
during the process of photosynthesis.
4. Chlorophyll

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Grade 8 Natural Science 2025

 Chlorophyll is a green pigment found in chloroplasts in plant cells.


 It absorbs the radiant energy from the sun.

THUS… the chemical reaction of photosynthesis is represented by the following


chemical equation:

PRODUCTS OF PHOTOSYNTHESIS:
1. Oxygen
 Oxygen is released as a “waste product”.
 The oxygen is then used by all living organisms for cellular respiration, to
release energy to sustain life.

2. Glucose
 Glucose is a simple sugar in which energy from the sun is now stored
aspotential energy that can be used by the plant for food.
 When animals consume (eat) the plants they in turn consume the energy
thatthe plants have converted during photosynthesis.

Plants can change glucose into other chemical compounds such as:
STARCH CELLULOSE
The main compound that plants use to Forms part of the cell walls of plant cells
store energy Structural material that provides
Starch is then stored in leaves and plants with support
other parts of the plant e.g. potatoes,
rice etc…
Most important energy source needed
to sustain life

RESPIRATION

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Grade 8 Natural Science 2025

DEFINITION OF RESPIRATION:

Respiration is a chemical reaction/process in cells whereby sugars (glucose)


arebroken down in the presence of oxygen, and energy & carbon dioxide
arereleased.

REQUIREMENTS FOR RESPIRATION:

1. Glucose (C6H12O6):
 Is one of the reactants in the chemical reaction of respiration
 Plants use the glucose they make, to release energy that they need to
function
 Herbivores (animals that feed on plants) obtain their glucose from plants
 Carnivores (animals that feed on other animals) obtain their glucose from
theanimals that they consume

2. Oxygen (O2):
 Is one of the reactants in the chemical reaction of respiration
 Plants absorb oxygen from the atmosphere primarily through tiny pores
(holes) in their leaves called stomata
 Animals breathe oxygen in from the atmosphere

PRODUCTS OF RESPIRATION:

1. Carbon Dioxide
 Carbon dioxide is released back into the atmosphere
 Plants release the carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere through their
stomata
 Animals release the carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere by breathing
it out

2. Water

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Grade 8 Natural Science 2025

 Water may also be released back into the atmosphere by plants and
animals
 Plants are able to release water in its gaseous state (water vapour) into
theatmosphere via the stomata
 Animals are able to release water in its gaseous state (water vapour) into
the atmosphere by breathing out (can be seen on cold winters’ days/nights
and can be seen when water vapour condense into liquid water when
breathing on a mirror or glass – as seen below)

3. Energy (in the form of ATP = adenosine triphosphate)


 Plants use the energy that is released by respiration for growth,
reproductionand other life processes
 Animals use the energy that is released by respiration for growth,
reproduction and other life processes

THUS... the chemical reaction for respiration is represented by the following


chemical equation:

Glucose + Oxygen → Carbon dioxide + Water + ENERGY

OVERALL PHOTOSYNTHESIS AND RESPIRATION CAN BE THOUGHT OF


AS OPPOSITE PROCESSES:

- During respiration food is broken down and energy is released


- During photosynthesis plants use the energy from the Sun to produce food

COMPARING RESPIRATION & PHOTOSYNTHESIS

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Grade 8 Natural Science 2025

PHOTOSYNTHESIS RESPIRATION
DEFINTION Photosynthesis is the Respiration is the process
process whereby allliving organisms
whereby plants prepare breakdown food(glucose) in
theirown food (glucose) using the presence of oxygen to
carbondioxide and water in release energy
thepresence of radiant
energy andchlorophyll
EQUATION Carbon dioxide + water → Glucose + oxygen → carbon
glucose + oxygen dioxide + water + energy
REQUIREMENTS Carbon dioxide & water Glucose & oxygen
PRODUCTS Glucose & oxygen Carbon dioxide, water &
energy
LOCATION Chloroplasts Mitochondria
FUNCTION Stores energy Releases energy

GASES Carbon dioxide is absorbed Oxygen is absorbed and


and carbon dioxide
oxygen is released is released
ORGANISMS Occurs only in plants and Occurs in all living organisms
some
photosynthetic bacteria
TIMING Occurs in the presence of Occurs all the time
sunlight

RESPIRATION VS BREATHING

During respiration oxygen in the air is exchanged with the carbon dioxide in the
blood.

Breathing is the physical action of taking in fresh air and getting rid of foul air

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