Respiration and Energy Transfer

Vocabulary flashcards covering cellular respiration, aerobic and anaerobic respiration, chemical equations, and industrial uses of fermentation.

Cellular respiration

An exothermic reaction which transfers energy from glucose and continuously occurs in living cells.

Exothermic reaction

A chemical reaction that releases energy.

Uses of energy in organisms

Processes requiring energy, including building larger molecules from smaller ones (such as combining amino acids to form proteins), muscular contraction for movement, and maintaining body temperature.

Aerobic respiration

The most efficient type of respiration that takes place continuously in plants and animals whenever there is enough oxygen.

Mitochondria

The subcellular structures where aerobic respiration specifically takes place.

Word equation for aerobic respiration

$$\text{glucose} + \text{oxygen} \rightarrow \text{carbon dioxide} + \text{water}$$

Glucose

A large energy-providing molecule with the chemical formula $C_6H_{12}O_6$.

Anaerobic respiration

Respiration that takes place without oxygen when oxygen supply cannot keep up with energy demands.

Word equation for anaerobic respiration in humans

$$\text{glucose} \rightarrow \text{lactic acid}$$

Lactic acid

A toxic product of anaerobic respiration in humans caused by partial breakdown of glucose that must be removed from the body later.

Word equation for anaerobic respiration in plants and yeast

$$\text{glucose} \rightarrow \text{ethanol} + \text{carbon dioxide}$$

Fermentation

The process of anaerobic respiration in yeast used in industry to produce carbon dioxide for making bread light and fluffy, and ethanol for making beer and wine.