Aerobic and anaerobic respiration

Students should be able to describe cellular respiration as an exothermic reaction which is continuously occurring in living cells.

The energy transferred supplies all the energy needed for living processes.

Respiration in cells can take place aerobically (using oxygen) or anaerobically (without oxygen), to transfer energy.

Students should be able to compare the processes of aerobic and anaerobic respiration with regard to the need for oxygen, the differing products and the relative amounts of energy transferred.

Organisms need energy for:

• chemical reactions to build larger molecules
• movement
• keeping warm.

Aerobic respiration is represented by the equation:

$$\text{glucose}+\text{oxygen}\rightarrow\text{carbon dioxide}+\text{water}$$