Key ideas:

Understandings:

• Cell respiration is the controlled release of energy from organic compounds to produce ATP

• ATP from cell respiration is immediately available as a source of energy in the cell

• Anaerobic cell respiration gives a small yield of ATP from glucose

• Aerobic cell respiration requires oxygen and gives a large yield of ATP from glucose

Applications:

• Use of anaerobic cell respiration in yeasts to produce ethanol and carbon dioxide in baking

• Lactate production in humans when anaerobic respiration is used to maximise the power of muscle contractions

ATP PRODUCTION

Understanding:

•  Cell respiration is the controlled release of energy from organic compounds to produce ATP

    
Cell respiration is the controlled release of energy from organic compounds to produce ATP

• The main organic compound used for this process is carbohydrates (glucose), although lipids and proteins can also be digested

There are two main types of cell respiration:

• Anaerobic respiration involves the partial breakdown of glucose in the cytosol for a small yield of ATP

• Aerobic respiration utilises oxygen to completely break down glucose in the mitochondria for a larger ATP yield

Cell Respiration Equation (Complete Breakdown)

Understanding:

•  ATP from cell respiration is immediately available as a source of energy in the cell

    
ATP (adenosine triphosphate) is a high energy molecule that functions as an immediate source of power for cell processes

• One molecule of ATP contains three covalently linked phosphate groups – which store potential energy in their bonds

• When ATP is hydrolysed (to form ADP + Pi) the energy stored in the phophate bond is released to be used by the cell

• Cell respiration uses energy stored in organic molecules to regenerate ATP from ADP + Pi (via oxidation) 

Relationship between ATP and ADP