Cellular Respiration Test Questions and
Answers Latest Version Graded A+
What is the significance of the proton gradient?
✔✔The proton gradient stores potential energy, which is used by ATP synthase to generate ATP
during cellular respiration.
Where does the citric acid cycle occur?
✔✔The citric acid cycle occurs in the mitochondrial matrix.
How does the body get energy when oxygen is unavailable?
✔✔When oxygen is unavailable, the body switches to anaerobic respiration, producing ATP
through fermentation.
What are the products of fermentation in muscles?
✔✔In muscles, fermentation produces lactic acid and a small amount of ATP when oxygen is
insufficient.
What is the function of coenzyme A in cellular respiration?
1
,✔✔Coenzyme A helps transport acetyl groups into the citric acid cycle, where they are broken
down to release energy.
What is the role of carbon dioxide in cellular respiration?
✔✔Carbon dioxide is produced as a byproduct during the citric acid cycle and is exhaled by the
organism.
How many ATP molecules are produced in the electron transport chain?
✔✔The electron transport chain produces approximately 34 ATP molecules from the electrons
donated by NADH and FADH2.
What would happen to cellular respiration if there were no oxygen?
✔✔Without oxygen, the electron transport chain would stop, and the cell would rely on
anaerobic respiration, which produces much less ATP.
What is the role of water in cellular respiration?
✔✔Water is produced as a byproduct of the electron transport chain when electrons combine
with oxygen and protons.
2
, What is the function of the mitochondria in energy production?
✔✔The mitochondria are the site of aerobic respiration, where ATP is produced through
glycolysis, the citric acid cycle, and the electron transport chain.
What is the significance of the inner mitochondrial membrane?
✔✔The inner mitochondrial membrane contains the electron transport chain and ATP synthase,
which are essential for ATP production.
What is the first step of cellular respiration?
✔✔The first step of cellular respiration is glycolysis, where glucose is broken down into two
molecules of pyruvate.
Where does glycolysis occur in the cell?
✔✔Glycolysis occurs in the cytoplasm of the cell.
What happens to pyruvate when oxygen is available?
✔✔When oxygen is available, pyruvate enters the mitochondria and is converted into acetyl-
CoA for the citric acid cycle.
3
Answers Latest Version Graded A+
What is the significance of the proton gradient?
✔✔The proton gradient stores potential energy, which is used by ATP synthase to generate ATP
during cellular respiration.
Where does the citric acid cycle occur?
✔✔The citric acid cycle occurs in the mitochondrial matrix.
How does the body get energy when oxygen is unavailable?
✔✔When oxygen is unavailable, the body switches to anaerobic respiration, producing ATP
through fermentation.
What are the products of fermentation in muscles?
✔✔In muscles, fermentation produces lactic acid and a small amount of ATP when oxygen is
insufficient.
What is the function of coenzyme A in cellular respiration?
1
,✔✔Coenzyme A helps transport acetyl groups into the citric acid cycle, where they are broken
down to release energy.
What is the role of carbon dioxide in cellular respiration?
✔✔Carbon dioxide is produced as a byproduct during the citric acid cycle and is exhaled by the
organism.
How many ATP molecules are produced in the electron transport chain?
✔✔The electron transport chain produces approximately 34 ATP molecules from the electrons
donated by NADH and FADH2.
What would happen to cellular respiration if there were no oxygen?
✔✔Without oxygen, the electron transport chain would stop, and the cell would rely on
anaerobic respiration, which produces much less ATP.
What is the role of water in cellular respiration?
✔✔Water is produced as a byproduct of the electron transport chain when electrons combine
with oxygen and protons.
2
, What is the function of the mitochondria in energy production?
✔✔The mitochondria are the site of aerobic respiration, where ATP is produced through
glycolysis, the citric acid cycle, and the electron transport chain.
What is the significance of the inner mitochondrial membrane?
✔✔The inner mitochondrial membrane contains the electron transport chain and ATP synthase,
which are essential for ATP production.
What is the first step of cellular respiration?
✔✔The first step of cellular respiration is glycolysis, where glucose is broken down into two
molecules of pyruvate.
Where does glycolysis occur in the cell?
✔✔Glycolysis occurs in the cytoplasm of the cell.
What happens to pyruvate when oxygen is available?
✔✔When oxygen is available, pyruvate enters the mitochondria and is converted into acetyl-
CoA for the citric acid cycle.
3
