Aerobic Respiration
- Aerobic respiration is a process that occurs in cells when oxygen is available
- Respiration is a series of enzyme-controlled reactions within the cell, that use glucose and oxygen to release energy and produce carbon dioxide and water
- The energy transferred supplies all the energy needed for living processes to occur within cells and organisms as a whole
- Organisms need energy for:
- Chemical reactions to build larger molecules from smaller molecules
- Muscle contraction to allow movement
- Keeping warm (to maintain a constant temperature suitable for enzyme activity)
Uses of energy diagram
Uses of the energy released from respiration
- The equation that summarises the chemical reactions of aerobic respiration that release energy from glucose are:
Word equation for aerobic respiration
Investigating Respiration
- We can investigate the production of heat from respiration through experiments using germinating seeds or peas
Apparatus
- Vacuum Flasks
- Thermometer
- Cotton wool
- Germinating seeds/peas
- Dead/boiled seeds/peas
Variables
- The independent variable is the contents of the boiling tube (germinating seeds/peas or dead seeds/peas)
- The dependent variable is the change in the temperature on the thermometer after 4 days
- Control variables include
- The number, age, size, species of seeds/peas
- The starting temperature of the flasks
- The material and size of the flasks
Method
- Rinse/wash the seeds/peas in disinfectant to kill any microorganisms on the surface of the seeds/peas which may also respire
- Set up the flasks as shown in the diagram
- Flask A with the dead seeds/peas
- Flask B with the germinating seeds/peas
- Thermos flasks are used to ensure heat energy released from respiration does not dissipate into the surroundings
- Make sure the cotton wool is plugging the top of each flask
- Hold the thermometer in place with the cotton wool
- Invert the flask
- Record the initial temperature
- After 4 days, record the final temperature
Investigating respiration diagram
Experiment to demonstrate the production of heat by living material during respiration
Results
- The thermometer in the flask with the germinating seeds/peas (flask B) should show an increase in temperature
- Flask A should remain at room temperature
- This is because the seeds/peas in flask B are respiring and releasing heat energy in the process
- This shows that respiration is an exothermic reaction
- The seeds/peas in flask A are not respiring because they are dead, so the temperature remains the same