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Aerobic Respiration (DP IB Biology: SL)

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Aerobic Respiration

  • Aerobic cell respiration requires oxygen and gives a large yield of ATP from glucose
  • The presence of oxygen allows glucose to be broken down fully into carbon dioxide and water
  • This yields far more energy (approx. 36 ATP molecules) than anaerobic respiration (2 ATP molecules) per molecule of glucose
  • CO2 is a waste product and has to be excreted
    • Except in plants where it is used for photosynthesis

  • Water is a by-product and contributes to the organism's water needs
    • Some animals that live in deserts drink very little but survive on this water

  • Most of the reactions of aerobic respiration, in eukaryotes, take place in the mitochondria

Word equation for aerobic respiration, IGCSE & GCSE Chemistry revision notes

Aerobic respiration releases energy during the reaction between glucose and oxygen

Comparing combustion and respiration

  • There are important similarities between the burning (combustion) of fuels and the two forms of  respiration
  • Both require oxygen and produce CO2 and water
  • Both release heat from the breakdown of chemical bonds in the fuel

Comparing Respiration and Combustion Table

Parallels between Combustions and the Types of Respiration Table, downloadable IB Biology revision notes

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Phil

Author: Phil

Expertise: Biology

Phil has a BSc in Biochemistry from the University of Birmingham, followed by an MBA from Manchester Business School. He has 15 years of teaching and tutoring experience, teaching Biology in schools before becoming director of a growing tuition agency. He has also examined Biology for one of the leading UK exam boards. Phil has a particular passion for empowering students to overcome their fear of numbers in a scientific context.