Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering chemical equations, redox concepts, and the specific stages and outputs of cellular respiration.

Photosynthesis General Equation

$$6\text{CO}_2 + 6\text{H}_2\text{O} \rightarrow \text{C}_6\text{H}_{12}\text{O}_6 + 6\text{O}_2$$

Cellular Respiration General Equation

$$\text{C}_6\text{H}_{12}\text{O}_6 + 6\text{O}_2 \rightarrow 6\text{H}_2\text{O} + 6\text{CO}_2 + \text{ENERGY}$$

Oxidation

The loss of electrons from a molecule or atom.

Reduction

The gain of electrons by a molecule or atom.

OIL RIG

A mnemonic device used to remember that Oxidation Is Loss and Reduction Is Gain of electrons.

Oxygen (\text{O}_2)

A highly electronegative molecule that serves as the final electron acceptor at the end of the Electron Transport Chain (ETC), forming $\text{H}_2\text{O}$.

NADH and \text{FADH}_2

Electron carriers, often referred to as "electron taxis," that transport high-energy electrons from glycolysis and the Citric Acid Cycle to the Electron Transport Chain.

Glycolysis

The first stage of cellular respiration occurring in the cytoplasm that splits glucose into two pyruvate molecules, yielding a net of $2\,\text{ATP}$ and $2\,\text{NADH}$.

Pyruvate Oxidation

A middle step in the mitochondrial matrix where pyruvate is converted into Acetyl CoA, releasing $1\,\text{CO}_2$ and forming $1\,\text{NADH}$ per pyruvate molecule.

Citric Acid Cycle (Krebs Cycle)

A series of reactions in the mitochondrial matrix that, per glucose molecule, produces $4\,\text{CO}_2$, $2\,\text{ATP}$, $6\,\text{NADH}$, and $2\,\text{FADH}_2$.

Electron Transport Chain (ETC)

A sequence of carriers in the inner mitochondrial membrane where energy from donated electrons is used to pump $\text{H}^+$ ions into the intermembrane space.

Chemiosmosis

The process where $\text{H}^+$ ions flow down their gradient through ATP synthase, generating kinetic energy to add a phosphate to ADP and produce ATP.

Substrate-level Phosphorylation

A mode of ATP synthesis occurring in glycolysis and the Krebs Cycle that produces $4\,\text{ATP}$ per glucose.

Oxidative Phosphorylation

The combination of the ETC and chemiosmosis, which produces the majority of ATP ($26\text{-}28\,\text{ATP}$) and requires $\text{O}_2$.