Types of Respiration

Importance of Respiration

• Energy Source: Majority of energy for functioning comes from glucose.
• Cellular Respiration: Exothermic reaction that transfers energy from glucose, continuously occurring in living cells.
  • Process: Breaking apart glucose molecules to release trapped energy.
  • Key Point: Energy is transferred, not created.

Uses of Energy in Organisms

1. Building Larger Molecules: e.g., combining amino acids to form proteins.
2. Muscle Contraction: Enables movement.
3. Maintaining Body Temperature: Keeps organisms warm in colder environments.

• Metabolism: All chemical processes within a living organism to maintain life, including those that don’t require energy.

Types of Respiration

1. Aerobic Respiration

• Definition: Respiration in the presence of sufficient oxygen.
• Efficiency: Most efficient way to transfer energy from glucose.
• Location: Takes place in mitochondria (subcellular structures) in both plants and animals.
• Word Equation:
  • Glucose + Oxygen → Carbon Dioxide + Water
• Chemical Symbols: 6 of everything except glucose because glucose is larger.
• Relation to Photosynthesis: Opposite reaction; photosynthesis produces glucose.

2. Anaerobic Respiration

• Definition: Respiration without oxygen, used when oxygen is insufficient (e.g., during sprinting).
• Word Equation:
  • Glucose → Lactic Acid
• Problems with Anaerobic Respiration:
  1. Incomplete breakdown of glucose leads to inefficiency.
  2. Lactic acid accumulation requires later removal.

Anaerobic Respiration in Plants and Yeast

• Process: Glucose is converted into ethanol and carbon dioxide instead of lactic acid.
• Fermentation: Process used by yeast; applied in industry:
  • Bread Production: Carbon dioxide forms pockets of air, making bread light and fluffy.
  • Alcohol Production: Ethanol is produced for beer and wine.

Conclusion

• Summary of respiration types and their significance in energy transfer and everyday applications.