Biology
Thinking Plants Do Not Respire
Believing plants only photosynthesize and never carry out respiration.
Quick check
Why students make it
Photosynthesis is taught as the plant process, so respiration seems like an animal-only activity.
The rule done right
Plants respire all the time, day and night, to release energy from sugars. In daylight they also photosynthesize, and that usually outpaces respiration.
Related resources
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Cellular Respiration Infographic -
Biology: The Mitochondrion Infographic -
Biology: The Chloroplast Infographic -
Biology: Stomata and Gas Exchange in Plants Infographic -
Biology: NAD+ and Electron Carriers Infographic - Photosynthesis & Cellular Respiration Cheat Sheet
- Bioenergetics & ATP Cheat Sheet
- Cell Structure & Function Cheat Sheet
- Plant Biology & Botany Cheat Sheet
- Science: Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration Worksheet
- Science: Photosynthesis: Light Reactions and Calvin Cycle Worksheet
- Biology: ATP and Cellular Energy Currency Worksheet
- Cell Biology Worksheet
- Cellular Respiration Explorer Tool
- Photosynthesis Explorer Tool
- Plant Structure & Function Explorer Tool
- Transpiration Explorer Tool
- Cellular Respiration Lab Lab
- Photosynthesis Rate Investigation Lab Lab
- Photosynthesis Lab Lab
- Photosynthesis Bubble Lab Lab
- Plant Water Transport Lab Lab