- The old saying is that plants are the opposite of people. People breathe in oxygen and breathe out carbon dioxide, and plants breathe in carbon dioxide and breath out oxygen. Although this statement is true, it is not complete. Plants also breathe in oxygen and breathe out carbon dioxide. Timing is the main issue in determining what is happening within the plant. It really depends on the time of day and sun exposure.
- Plant breathing happens in two ways, by gases being absorbed through pores in the plant and by photosynthesis, which is the absorption of sunlight. With the absorption of gases through the pores, oxygen is taken in and reacts with glucose. The plant then releases carbon dioxide. The pores of the plant are located everywhere, even the roots. For this reason it is best not to give a plant too much water. It blocks the absorption process, and the plant literally drowns.
- With photosynthesis, there is an absorption of light and carbon dioxide. The breathing out is oxygen. The sunlight helps break down water within the plant and the carbon dioxide and reforms it into oxygen and glucose. Oxygen is then released into the air.
- Timing affects what a plant produces. At night there is no way for photosynthesis to occur, so the plant only gives off carbon dioxide. During cloudy days or low light, the two processes are about even, and they cancel each other out. But during sunny days, plants give off more oxygen than carbon dioxide.
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