burning: food+oxygen > water+energy (heat and light)

Respiration and bring both use food and oxygen, both produce water and carbon dioxide and release the same amount of energy. Burning occurs in air but respiration occurs in living cells. Burning requires high temperature but respiration only requires body temperature. Heat and light is produce during burning but heat and energy rich compound is produced during respiration. Burning is a single step reaction while respiration is a series of reactions. Burning is fast and vigorous and respiration is slow and gradual.

respiration: glucose+oxygen > carbon dioxide+water+energy

C6H12O6+6O2 > 6CO2+6H2O

Glucose is broken down step-by-step, with energy being released gradually. Each step of respiration is controlled by a specific enzyme. Some of the reactions of respiration occur in the cytoplasm, but the majority of the reactions happen in mitochondria. The process of respiration produces a substance called ATP which is composed of adenosine attached to three phosphate groups. Energy stored in ATP can be used for a variety of purposes. When cells need to use energy, ATP is broken down into ADP and phosphate.