Ascientist places a plant in an enclosed system. after five days, she determines that the amount of carbon
dioxide has increased and the amount of oxygen has decreased. how can her findings be explained?

Answer

The rate of  CO2 usage for photosynthesis where O2 is produced,  outpaces the rate of O2 use in  respiration and photorespiration.

Explanation:

Photosynthesis is a chemical pathway that’s integral to producing energy in plants and other primary producers. Energy in the form of molecules of glucose is produced from light, water and carbon dioxide while oxygen is released. This occurs in several complex steps, photosynthesis is a rate limited reaction, depends on several factors including carbon dioxide concentration, ambient temperature and light intensity; the energy is retrieved from photons, I.e.particles of light, and water is used as a reducing agent.

Reactions like 1.) Respiration and 2.)photorespiration both utilize some oxygen for;

However, these reactions are not using oxygen in signofiant enough amounts for  equilibrium with CO2 use.

∴ the rate of  CO2 usage for photosynthesis where O2 is produced,  outpaces the rate of O2 use in  respiration and photorespiration.