A learner says plants photosynthesise by day and respire only by night. What is wrong with that idea?
APlants respire by day and by night
BPlants respire only when in bright light
CPlants never respire, they only feed
DPlants respire only when they are old
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: A. Plants respire by day and by night
1. Photosynthesis needs light, so it can only happen during daylight hours.
2. Respiration needs glucose and oxygen, neither of which depends on light.
3. Every living organism releases energy by respiration all the time.
4. So a plant respires by day as well as by night.
5. During the day a plant does both processes at once.
6. A plant that never respired would have no way of releasing energy from its food.
_Source: Siyavula Natural Sciences Grade 8 (CC BY 4.0), Respiration_
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