Anaerobic respiration

• What is anaerobic respiration?

  Respiration in the absence of oxygen
• Where does anaerobic respiration occur in the cell?

  In the cytoplasm of the cell
• How does anaerobic respiration differ from aerobic respiration?

  Anaerobic occurs in cytoplasm, aerobic in mitochondria
• What is the first step in both anaerobic and aerobic respiration?

  Glycolysis creating pyruvate
• What is the main purpose of anaerobic respiration?

  To release small amounts of ATP
• What is oxidized in anaerobic respiration?

  NAD is oxidized to continue glycolysis
• What is produced from pyruvate in animal anaerobic respiration?

  Lactate, which becomes lactic acid
• What is the net gain of ATP from anaerobic respiration?

  2 ATP from glycolysis
• Why can't anaerobic respiration occur indefinitely?

  Lactate is an acid that denatures enzymes
• What do plants and microbes produce from pyruvate during anaerobic respiration?

  Ethanol and carbon dioxide
• What is the efficiency of anaerobic respiration compared to aerobic respiration?

  Anaerobic is less efficient than aerobic
• How many ATP molecules are produced from one glucose molecule in aerobic respiration?

  38 ATP molecules
• What is the efficiency percentage of aerobic respiration?

  32% efficiency
• What causes the inefficiency in aerobic respiration?

  Proton leakage and energy loss as heat
• How many ATP molecules are produced from one glucose molecule in anaerobic respiration?

  2 ATP molecules
• Why is anaerobic respiration less efficient than aerobic respiration?

  Glucose is not fully broken down
• What are the key stages of glycolysis in anaerobic respiration?

  • Glucose is broken down to pyruvate
  • Pyruvate is reduced to lactate in animals
  • Pyruvate is converted to ethanol and CO2 in plants and microbes
  • Produces a net gain of 2 ATP
• Compare the products of anaerobic respiration in animals and plants/microbes.

  • Animals: Produces lactate (lactic acid)
  • Plants/Microbes: Produces ethanol and carbon dioxide
• What are the reasons for the inefficiency of anaerobic respiration?

  • Only 2 ATP produced from glucose
  • Incomplete breakdown of glucose
  • Lactate or ethanol can denature enzymes