Why is anaerobic respiration considered less efficient than aerobic respiration?
a
More ATP molecules are gained in aerobic respiration than in anaerobic respiration.
b
Less lactic acid is formed during anaerobic respiration than during aerobic respiration.
c
Less energy is required during anaerobic respiration than aerobic respiration.
d
More oxygen is required for anaerobic respiration than for aerobic respiration.
The correct answer is a) More ATP molecules are gained in aerobic respiration than in anaerobic respiration.
Anaerobic respiration occurs in the absence of oxygen and produces a limited amount of ATP through the process of glycolysis. This initial step of anaerobic respiration produces 2 ATP molecules per glucose molecule. However, it does not fully break down glucose, resulting in the accumulation of lactic acid in humans or ethanol in some other organisms.
On the other hand, aerobic respiration occurs in the presence of oxygen and allows for a complete breakdown of glucose, producing a maximum of 36-38 ATP molecules. This process includes the additional steps of the Krebs cycle and electron transport chain, which generate a significant amount of ATP.
Therefore, aerobic respiration is considered more efficient in terms of ATP production because it generates a much higher yield of ATP molecules compared to anaerobic respiration.
The correct answer is:
a) More ATP molecules are gained in aerobic respiration than in anaerobic respiration.
Aerobic respiration produces a significantly higher amount of ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate) molecules compared to anaerobic respiration. This is because aerobic respiration uses oxygen as the final electron acceptor in the electron transport chain, which allows for the complete break down of glucose. In contrast, anaerobic respiration uses molecules other than oxygen as the final electron acceptor, resulting in a less efficient energy production process and fewer ATP molecules generated.
The correct answer is a) More ATP molecules are gained in aerobic respiration than in anaerobic respiration.
To understand why aerobic respiration is considered more efficient than anaerobic respiration, let's break down both processes:
Aerobic Respiration:
Aerobic respiration is a series of chemical reactions that occur in the presence of oxygen. This process takes place in the mitochondria of cells and involves three main steps: glycolysis, the Krebs cycle (also known as the citric acid cycle), and the electron transport chain.
During aerobic respiration, glucose molecule is completely broken down, resulting in the release of a large amount of energy in the form of ATP (adenosine triphosphate). ATP is the main energy currency of cells. The breakdown of glucose in aerobic respiration produces around 36-38 ATP molecules per glucose molecule.
Anaerobic Respiration:
Anaerobic respiration, on the other hand, is a process that occurs in the absence of oxygen. There are two main types of anaerobic respiration: lactic acid fermentation and alcoholic fermentation.
In lactic acid fermentation, glucose is partially broken down and converted into lactic acid. This process occurs in the cytoplasm of cells and does not produce as much ATP as aerobic respiration. Only 2 ATP molecules are produced per glucose molecule.
Comparing the two processes:
The key difference between aerobic and anaerobic respiration lies in the final electron acceptor in the electron transport chain. In aerobic respiration, oxygen is the final electron acceptor, allowing for more efficient energy production. In anaerobic respiration, alternative electron acceptors, such as lactic acid or ethanol, are used, which results in less energy being produced.
Therefore, aerobic respiration is considered more efficient because it produces significantly more ATP than anaerobic respiration.