How do respiration and photosynthesis differ in energy flow?

• A. Both respiration and photosynthesis store energy.
• B. Photosynthesis releases energy by breaking down glucose; respiration stores energy by building sugars.
• C. Photosynthesis stores energy by building sugars; respiration releases energy by breaking down sugars.
• D. Neither process stores energy.

Answer: (C)

Energy flow in these plant processes moves from capturing energy to storing it, and then to releasing it for use. Photosynthesis takes light energy and uses it to build sugars, storing that energy in the chemical bonds of glucose. Respiration, on the other hand, oxidizes those sugars to release the stored energy and generate ATP that cells can use for work. So the best description is: photosynthesis stores energy by building sugars; respiration releases energy by breaking down sugars. The other statements misidentify which process stores energy or what each process does.