Why does a plant in the dark produce more carbon then one in the light?

1. Plants release oxygen in the light because they are photosynthesizing, which requires the input of carbon dioxide, water, and sunlight. The reaction is:

6CO2 + 6H20 + Light = C6H12O6 + 6O2

Essentially, the carbon atom is removed from carbon dioxide molecules and joined with water molecules to produce 6(CH20) or C6H12O6, which is glucose. This releases the O2 molecule, which is the stable state of oxygen gas, from carbon dioxide.

2. This is wrong. When respiring, all living organisms breathe out carbon dioxide, unless they're DEAD! They give out CO2 to respire, to answer the question.