I just read that with the exception of the Christmas Cactus, green plants take in oxygen at night?

Question

They only give it off in the daytime...is this true?

Answer 1

Yes Boops, Animals eat to get food, but green plants make their own food. The process plants use is called photosynthesis, which is when the plants take in water and carbon dioxide to make oxygen and glucose. This process only happens in the day as it needs light.

Carbon Dioxide + Water (+ light energy) ---> Oxygen + Glucose

Plants get carbon dioxide from the air through their leaves and water from the ground through their roots. Light energy comes from the sun.

The glucose produced can be turned into other substances, such as starch, which is used for storage. The oxygen produced is released into the air from the leaves.

Plants that lose their leaves in winter store food produced during the summer by photosynthesis. They store enough food to last them over winter, and to provide energy reserves for new growth in the spring.

Plant cells also respire, just as animal cells do. If they stop respiring, they will die. Remember that respiration is not the same as breathing,  plants do not breathe. Plants respire all the time, whether it is dark or light. They are always taking in oxygen and releasing carbon dioxide. The process of respiration is basically the opposite of photosynthesis.

Glucose + Oxygen ---> Carbon Dioxide + Water (+ energy)

Answer 2

I don't know but I thought all  ( folage) plants   give out oxygen and take in carbon dioxide at all times.

Answer 3

Yes.

Answer 4

Yer because during the day, provided photosynthesis is taking place flowering plants take in carbon dioxide and remove oxygen. Oxygen is a waste product of photosynthesis due to the photolysis of water. The plant doesn't require it only the ATP, reduced co-enzyme and glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate are used, which can be converted into amino acids, carbohydrates and lipids etc. At night oxygen gets absorbed and carbon dioxide removed via the stomata, due to respiration. Some of the oxygen from photosynthesis can be used directly in respiration.