Why does glucose yield up to 38 ATP in cellular respiration but only takes 18 ATP and 6 nadph to synthesize during photosynthesis?

Answer 1

ATP and ADP are energy molecules (adenosine triphosphate and adenosine diphosphate, respectively). In ATP there are 3 phosphate groups, hence triphosphate. When you break off one of those phosphates you release energy, and it becomes adenosine diphosphate. Adding one will store energy in it. Therefore ATP and ADP provide energy to help start processes in cell respiration by providing energy. Same with photosynthesis. ATP releases a phosphate group in order to help carry out some of the parts of photosynthesis.

Answer 2

This is because cellular respiration is a catabolic process that breaks down glucose to release energy stored in its bonds, producing ATP as a result. In contrast, photosynthesis is an anabolic process that uses light energy to build glucose from simpler molecules like CO2 and water, requiring ATP and NADPH as energy sources. The difference in ATP yield is due to the different metabolic pathways and energy requirements of these two processes.