Photosynthesis is known as the process of manufacturing food using energy while respiration is the process of burning sugars to obtain energy. Although both of these functions do sound similar, they do have differences.
Photosynthesis is a process which only happens in plants. Unlike photosynthesis, respiration does occur in both plants and animals.
In the photosynthesis process, the plant absorbs water and carbon dioxide. Water is absorbed by the plant from the ground through the root hairs of the plant in a process called osmosis. The osmosis process in plants creates a turgor pressure when water is absorbed. This pressure causes the stomata guard cells on the surface of the leaf to open. The opening of stomata allows carbon dioxide to enter the plant. In contrast, the respiration process only gives out water and carbon dioxide as a by-product of the biochemical reaction.
Energy from the sun is required in the photosynthesis process. The reaction of water with carbon dioxide produces complex sugar known as polysaccharides. On the contrary, respiration process uses energy from photosynthesis. The reaction of sugar with oxygen in cellular respiration in plants releases energy.
In the photosynthesis process, polysaccharides are stored in the form of starch as energy. Carrots and tapioca are examples of tuber plants that store their energy in roots. Unlike photosynthesis, respiration does not store energy but uses up energy.
