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By Charlotte B. Cerminaro web posted July 12, 2021
Anyone who owns a houseplant is the beneficiary of a small biochemical factory, a wonder of molecular synthesis and energy conservation. Skipping the overly-complicated details of photosynthesis, our leafy greens absorb carbon dioxide (CO2, a normal byproduct of mammalian respiration) and water (H2O) synthesize these into glucose (C6,H12,O6) for their own metabolism and growth, and release pure atmospheric oxygen (O2) in the process. It s a symbiotic, complementary and beneficial relationship that we generally don t think about. A certain oxygen/carbon dioxide balance is necessary for the survival of all plants and animals and, contrary to ongoing media hysteria, CO2 is not a greenhouse gas nor is it a cause of global warming.