Aerobic Respiration

7.2 Aerobic Respiration
 
Introduction
  • Aerobic respiration is the breakdown of glucose involving oxygen to produce chemical energy.
  • Oxygen is used to oxidise glucose to produce carbon dioxide, water and energy.
  • The aerobic respiration process begins with the glycolysis process.
  • Glycolysis means the breakdown of glucose by enzymes.
  • This process occurs in the cytoplasm.
  • One glucose molecule is broken down into two pyruvate molecules.
  • The following process occurs in the mitochondrion.
  • Pyruvate produced from glycolysis is then oxidised through a series of reactions to produce carbon dioxide, water and energy.
  • A large amount of this energy is used to produce adenosine triphosphate (ATP) molecules.
 
 
 
Aerobic Respiration
  • ATP molecules are produced when a group of non-organic phosphate is added to adenosine diphosphate (ADP).
  • ATP molecules have weak phosphate links.
  • When the phosphate links on ATP molecules are broken, the energy released is supplied to cells to help us carry out our daily activities.
  • The complete process of glucose oxidation is simplified as follows:
    • Glucose + oxygen \(\rightarrow\) Carbon dioxide + water + energy (2898 kJ).​​​​​​​

Aerobic Respiration

7.2 Aerobic Respiration
 
Introduction
  • Aerobic respiration is the breakdown of glucose involving oxygen to produce chemical energy.
  • Oxygen is used to oxidise glucose to produce carbon dioxide, water and energy.
  • The aerobic respiration process begins with the glycolysis process.
  • Glycolysis means the breakdown of glucose by enzymes.
  • This process occurs in the cytoplasm.
  • One glucose molecule is broken down into two pyruvate molecules.
  • The following process occurs in the mitochondrion.
  • Pyruvate produced from glycolysis is then oxidised through a series of reactions to produce carbon dioxide, water and energy.
  • A large amount of this energy is used to produce adenosine triphosphate (ATP) molecules.
 
 
 
Aerobic Respiration
  • ATP molecules are produced when a group of non-organic phosphate is added to adenosine diphosphate (ADP).
  • ATP molecules have weak phosphate links.
  • When the phosphate links on ATP molecules are broken, the energy released is supplied to cells to help us carry out our daily activities.
  • The complete process of glucose oxidation is simplified as follows:
    • Glucose + oxygen \(\rightarrow\) Carbon dioxide + water + energy (2898 kJ).​​​​​​​