Which four substances are recycled during the processes of photosynthesis and cellular respiration?

• A. Protein, DNA, RNA, and lipids
• B. Chlorophyll, sunlight, ATP, and NADPH
• C. Nitrogen (N\(_2\)), methane (CH\(_4\)), ATP, and sodium chloride (NaCl)
• D. Water (H\(_2\)O), carbon dioxide (CO\(_2\)), oxygen (O\(_2\)), and glucose (C\(_6\)H\(_{12}\)O\(_6\))

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the processes of photosynthesis and cellular respiration. Photosynthesis is the process by which plants convert light energy into chemical energy stored in glucose (C\(_6\)H\(_{12}\)O\(_6\)), while cellular respiration is the process by which organisms break down glucose to release energy in the form of ATP.
2. Step 2: Identify the substances involved in both processes. Photosynthesis uses carbon dioxide (CO\(_2\)) and water (H\(_2\)O) to produce glucose (C\(_6\)H\(_{12}\)O\(_6\)) and oxygen (O\(_2\)). Cellular respiration uses glucose (C\(_6\)H\(_{12}\)O\(_6\)) and oxygen (O\(_2\)) to produce carbon dioxide (CO\(_2\)), water (H\(_2\)O), and energy (ATP).
3. Step 3: Recognize that the substances recycled between these processes are water (H\(_2\)O), carbon dioxide (CO\(_2\)), oxygen (O\(_2\)), and glucose (C\(_6\)H\(_{12}\)O\(_6\)). These substances are continuously exchanged between photosynthesis and cellular respiration.
4. Step 4: Eliminate incorrect options. Protein, DNA, RNA, and lipids are not directly involved in the recycling process between photosynthesis and cellular respiration. Chlorophyll, sunlight, ATP, and NADPH are components or energy carriers in photosynthesis but are not recycled. Nitrogen (N\(_2\)), methane (CH\(_4\)), ATP, and sodium chloride (NaCl) are unrelated to these processes.
5. Step 5: Conclude that the correct answer is water (H\(_2\)O), carbon dioxide (CO\(_2\)), oxygen (O\(_2\)), and glucose (C\(_6\)H\(_{12}\)O\(_6\)), as these substances are integral to the cyclical relationship between photosynthesis and cellular respiration.