respiration flashcards

All 20 cards

1. Card 1

   Define aerobic respiration and provide its balanced chemical equation.

   Aerobic respiration is the breakdown of sugar (carbohydrate) in the presence of oxygen to release energy, carbon dioxide, and water. The balanced equation is: C6H12O6 + 6O2 → 6CO2 + 6H2O + 2820 kJ.

2. Card 2

   What is cellular respiration?

   Cellular respiration is the process by which food, specifically carbohydrates, is broken down to release energy within a cell. This process typically requires oxygen but can also occur without it.

3. Card 3

   Distinguish between aerobic and anaerobic respiration based on the presence of oxygen.

   Aerobic respiration is the breakdown of food (carbohydrate) with oxygen, while anaerobic respiration is the breakdown of food (carbohydrate) without oxygen. This difference in oxygen requirement dictates the products and energy yield of each process.

4. Card 4

   Describe the two main stages of aerobic respiration.

   The first stage of aerobic respiration takes place in the cytosol, where glucose is broken down into two three-carbon compounds without oxygen, releasing very little energy. The second stage occurs in the mitochondria, where these three-carbon compounds are broken down into carbon dioxide and water, requiring oxygen and releasing a lot of energy.

5. Card 5

   Define anaerobic respiration and give its word equation for yeast.

   Anaerobic respiration is the breakdown of sugar in the absence of oxygen, releasing little energy. In yeast, the word equation is: glucose → ethanol + carbon dioxide + very little energy.

6. Card 6

   What is the primary product of anaerobic respiration in human muscle cells, and what effect does it have?

   In muscle cells, the primary product of anaerobic respiration is lactic acid. Lactic acid eventually damages the cells in the muscles and causes cramp.

7. Card 7

   Explain the role of ATP in cellular metabolism.

   Energy released from the breakdown of glucose during respiration is used to make ATP. ATP is later broken down, and the energy released from it will be used for all metabolic reactions within the cell, acting as the cell's energy currency.

8. Card 8

   What is fermentation, and how is it related to anaerobic respiration?

   Fermentation is another name for anaerobic respiration. It is a metabolic process that occurs in the absence of oxygen, where glucose is broken down to three-carbon compounds, releasing little energy, which can then be converted into products like lactic acid or ethanol.

9. Card 9

   Describe the first stage of aerobic respiration, known as glycolysis, including its location and products.

   Glycolysis is the first stage of aerobic respiration, occurring in the cytosol of the cell without requiring oxygen. In this process, a six-carbon sugar (glucose) is converted into two three-carbon compounds called pyruvic acid (pyruvate), producing two ATP molecules and NADH.

10. Card 10

    What happens to pyruvic acid if oxygen is not present in the cell?

    If oxygen is not present, the pyruvic acid (pyruvate) produced during glycolysis is converted into either lactic acid (in muscle cells) or ethanol and carbon dioxide (in yeast), rather than entering the Krebs cycle.

11. Card 11

    What is a bioreactor, and what is its purpose in industrial processes?

    A bioreactor is a vessel, usually large, in which cells, organisms, or enzymes are placed to manufacture specific products. It provides a controlled environment for bioprocessing, often utilizing microbial fermentation.

12. Card 12

    How does industrial fermentation contribute to food production?

    Industrial fermentation uses micro-organisms to ferment original food substrates, producing desired results in various food products. Examples include brewing (ethanol), baking (carbon dioxide), yoghurt-making, and cheese-making.

13. Card 13

    Define biotechnology and provide three examples of its applications.

    Biotechnology is the production of useful products using living cells or their parts. Examples of applications include brewing, baking, and yoghurt-making, all of which depend on anaerobic respiration and microbial activity.

14. Card 14

    Where does the second stage of aerobic respiration, including the Krebs cycle, take place?

    The second stage of aerobic respiration, which includes the Krebs cycle, takes place in the mitochondrion. This stage requires oxygen and is responsible for producing a significant amount of energy.

15. Card 15

    Explain the fate of pyruvic acid when oxygen is present, leading into the Krebs cycle.

    If oxygen is present, pyruvic acid enters the mitochondrion. One carbon atom is removed as CO2, and the remaining two-carbon acetyl group forms acetyl coenzyme A, which then enters the Krebs cycle for further breakdown.

16. Card 16

    What are the main outputs of the Krebs cycle?

    The Krebs cycle converts the acetyl group into CO2 and hydrogen in a series of reactions. The CO2 is released as a waste gas, and NADH is generated from NAD and hydrogen, which then enters the electron transport chain.

17. Card 17

    Describe the location and function of the electron transport system in aerobic respiration.

    The electron transport system is located on the cristae of the mitochondria. Its function is to transfer electrons from hydrogen atoms down an electron carrier chain, using the released energy to manufacture ATP from ADP and P. Finally, H+, electrons, and oxygen combine to form water.

18. Card 18

    Why is the energy released during respiration converted to ATP?

    Energy from the sun is stored in carbohydrate molecules through photosynthesis. For cell activity, this energy needs to be released gradually and converted to ATP, which is a readily usable form of energy for all metabolic reactions.

19. Card 19

    What is the significance of NADH in aerobic respiration?

    NADH is generated during glycolysis and the Krebs cycle by picking up electrons and protons. It then carries these to the electron transport chain, where the electrons are used to generate a large amount of ATP.

20. Card 20

    How do micro-organisms contribute to industrial fermentation processes?

    Micro-organisms are crucial in industrial fermentation because they carry out the anaerobic respiration (fermentation) of the original food substrate. This process produces desired products like ethanol in brewing or lactic acid in yoghurt-making, often within a bioreactor.

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