Aerobic and anaerobic respiration
Respiration is not breathing. It is a chemical reaction in every living cell, all the time, that releases the energy stored in food. A seed waking up, a muscle running and a loaf rising all depend on it.
By the end of this page you can
- Give examples of respiration in plants, yeast, bacteria and muscles
- Write the word and chemical equations for aerobic respiration
- Explain what happens in muscles that run short of oxygen
- Tell respiration from breathing, and aerobic from anaerobic
- Answer exam questions on respiration
Goals tick themselves off as you try the activities below.
Photo: Judgefloro, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped.
A bean germinating. Until it has leaves, the seedling lives by respiring the food stored in the seed.
How often it shows up in past papers
Paper 1 counts come from our past-paper bank of CSEC Biology Paper 1s. Paper 2 is not included yet.
With oxygen, and without it
Aerobic respiration uses oxygen and releases a lot of energy. Anaerobic respiration happens without oxygen and releases much less. Tap each card to see both at work.
Aerobic respiration in one equation
Glucose + oxygen → carbon dioxide + water + energy, in the mitochondria. Balanced: C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂ → 6CO₂ + 6H₂O + energy.
In and out of a cell
Tap a part to see its role.
Respiration is photosynthesis in reverse: the products of one are the raw materials of the other.
What happens in a hard sprint
From the start of the race to recovery. Drag or tap each card into its slot.
What happens first?
Seven terms to know cold
Say what each term means before you flip the card. The first two are the pair examiners most often ask you to tell apart.
Six quick questions, then a real one
Pick an answer to see why it’s right or wrong.
Which BEST describes the role of respiration?
The reactants (starting materials) in aerobic respiration are
The energy released in respiration is captured for a short time in
Germinating seeds are kept in a vacuum flask. The temperature rises over several days because the seeds are
An athlete gets muscle cramps after a sprint. These are most likely caused by a build-up of
Which statement about aerobic and anaerobic respiration is correct?
exam style · 3 marks
Distinguish between aerobic and anaerobic respiration.
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Practice questions are written by My V.I.P. Academy. They are not official CXC papers.