BTEC Level 3 Applied Science Unit 10 Assignment B
Respiration
Introduction
Majority of the energy we use originates from glucose molecules produced by plants
during photosynthesis, we employ cellular respiration to release this energy. This is
an exothermic process that continually occurs in our living cells, these transfer
energy from glucose by liberating energy from the glucose molecule. This occurs
within the cell and is called cellular respiration.
There are two types of respiration, aerobic and anaerobic respiration. These are
defined by the presence of oxygen and its use in respiration.
The most common type of respiration is aerobic, this occurs when there are
adequate oxygen levels in the body. This is the most effective route for glucose to be
turned into energy. This occurs in four phases in the human body. Glucose and
oxygen are combined to generate carbon dioxide and water. C6H12O6 (glucose) +
6O2 (oxygen) 6CO2 (carbon dioxide) + 6H2O (water) + energy, this is the entire
balanced equation of aerobic respiration and represented as ATP.
,Anaerobic respiration is an oxygen free respiration. This only occurs when
necessary, such as during exercise where energy is needed to provide the extra
demands of the muscles and not enough energy is produced aerobically.
Glucose becomes lactic acid the equation is C 6H12O6 (glucose) to 2C3H6O3 (lactic
acid).
We do not tend to utilize this process as the partial breakdown of glucose as there is
not enough oxygen to oxidise it. This renders the entire process inefficient as we are
not extracting all the energy contained in the glucose molecule. The second issue is
that lactic acid accumulates and must be removed later due to the body’s lactic acid
intolerance.
Anaerobic respiration occurs in plants and yeast and is different in that glucose is
converted to ethanol and carbon dioxide rather than lactic acid. This process is
known as fermentation.
, The Structure and function of ATP
Respiration
Introduction
Majority of the energy we use originates from glucose molecules produced by plants
during photosynthesis, we employ cellular respiration to release this energy. This is
an exothermic process that continually occurs in our living cells, these transfer
energy from glucose by liberating energy from the glucose molecule. This occurs
within the cell and is called cellular respiration.
There are two types of respiration, aerobic and anaerobic respiration. These are
defined by the presence of oxygen and its use in respiration.
The most common type of respiration is aerobic, this occurs when there are
adequate oxygen levels in the body. This is the most effective route for glucose to be
turned into energy. This occurs in four phases in the human body. Glucose and
oxygen are combined to generate carbon dioxide and water. C6H12O6 (glucose) +
6O2 (oxygen) 6CO2 (carbon dioxide) + 6H2O (water) + energy, this is the entire
balanced equation of aerobic respiration and represented as ATP.
,Anaerobic respiration is an oxygen free respiration. This only occurs when
necessary, such as during exercise where energy is needed to provide the extra
demands of the muscles and not enough energy is produced aerobically.
Glucose becomes lactic acid the equation is C 6H12O6 (glucose) to 2C3H6O3 (lactic
acid).
We do not tend to utilize this process as the partial breakdown of glucose as there is
not enough oxygen to oxidise it. This renders the entire process inefficient as we are
not extracting all the energy contained in the glucose molecule. The second issue is
that lactic acid accumulates and must be removed later due to the body’s lactic acid
intolerance.
Anaerobic respiration occurs in plants and yeast and is different in that glucose is
converted to ethanol and carbon dioxide rather than lactic acid. This process is
known as fermentation.
, The Structure and function of ATP
