In aerobic cellular respiration oxygen is utilized to convert organic compounds into energy and in anaerobic respiration converts organic compounds into energy without using oxygen. Site of Reactions . Photosynthesis takes place in the chloroplasts and organelles of a plant cell. Respiration takes place in the cytoplasm and mitochondria in the cell of a living organism. Reaction kinetics . The electron acceptor in photosynthesis is NAD+ while in respiration the electron acceptor is NADH. In cellular respiration reaction 36 molecules of ATP are produced in complete oxidation of one molecule of glucose.