Module 6: Cellular Respiration – Key Concepts

Flashcards covering oxidation-reduction, respiration stages, equations, locations, and differences between aerobic respiration and fermentation.

What is oxidation in biological reactions?

The loss of electrons.

What is reduction in biological reactions?

The gain of electrons.

During cellular respiration, what happens to glucose?

It is broken down into CO₂, releasing energy to produce ATP.

Write the overall chemical equation for cellular respiration.

C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂ → 6CO₂ + 6H₂O + 38 ATP

How do aerobic and anaerobic respiration differ?

Aerobic respiration requires oxygen (used in the ETC), whereas anaerobic respiration occurs without oxygen and includes fermentation.

In which organelle does cellular respiration take place in eukaryotic cells?

The mitochondrion.

List the three main stages of cellular respiration in order.

Glycolysis, Citric Acid Cycle, and Electron Transport Chain.

Where does glycolysis occur and what are its main products?

In the cytoplasm; it produces 2 pyruvate, ATP, and NADH.

What is the primary purpose of the Citric Acid Cycle?

To complete the breakdown of glucose derivatives, producing ATP, NADH, and FADH₂.

Why is the Electron Transport Chain crucial in respiration?

It uses electrons from NADH and FADH₂ to generate most of the cell’s ATP and forms water.

Define fermentation and name its two common end products.

An anaerobic process that generates ATP without oxygen; it produces ethanol in yeast and lactic acid in muscle cells.