Tabitha Darrell Form 5C

Date: 27/11/2020

Lab# 5
Title: Respiration

Aim: To determine the effects of temperature on anaerobic respiration.

Apparatus:

Yeast

Glucose solution

Balloons

Ice

Water bath

Cold water

Materials:

Thermometer

Measuring cylinder

Triple beam balance

Boiling tube

Beaker
Diagram:

Procedure:

1. 10cm3 of glucose solution was poured into a boiling tube and 2 g of yeast was added.
2. A balloon was placed over the mouth of the tube.
3. Crushed ice was added into the beaker then the tube was placed into the beaker.
4. All observations were recorded within 10 minutes.
5. Steps 1 to 4 was repeated with the exception of placing the boiling tube into warm water.
Results

. TABLE SHOWING CHANGES IN THE BALLOON FROM THE TWO TEMPERATURES

OF WATER BATHS

Temperature Observations before Observations after

Warm Water Balloon was deflated and 15 minutes after the boiling
yeast began to mix in with the tube was placed in warm
glucose solution. water, the balloon could be
seen slowly being filled with
gas and expanding.
Cold Water Balloon was deflated and 15 minutes after it was placed
yeast began to mix in with the into the crushed ice the
glucose solution. balloon did not expand in
comparison to the balloon
attached to the boiling tube
placed in warm water.

Discussion

In biology, anaerobic respiration is a way for an organism to produce usable energy without the
involvement of oxygen. Both aerobic and anaerobic respiration involves the breakdown of
glucose, however in anaerobic respiration, it is not completely broken down. Yeasts are
microscopic, single-celled organisms, and are a type of fungus that is found all around us, in
water, soil, on plants, on animals and in the air. In this experiment, the yeast was placed in an
environment without oxygen and forced to grow. During anaerobic respiration in yeast, ethanol
and carbon dioxide are produced as waste products. When the glucose and yeast are placed into
the boiling tube, complex sugars or polysaccharides are broken down into monosaccharides, for
example glucose by the yeast. Then the glucose undergoes a decomposition reaction where it is
broken down into ethanol and carbon dioxide and energy. The gas filling the balloon causing it
to expand was the carbon dioxide produced in the reaction.

The decomposition reaction can be expressed by the chemical formula:

C₆H₁₂O₆ ➞ 2C₂H₅OH + 2CO₂ + 2 ATP

The balloon over the boiling tube with crushed ice had no noticeable change. This is due to
temperature having an effect on the rate of reaction. Increasing the temperature, in turn increases
the Brownian motion. When yeast burn sugar under anaerobic conditions, ethanol (ethyl alcohol)
and carbon dioxide are released in a process called fermentation. Thus, the metabolic activity of
yeast may be measured by monitoring the concentration of carbon dioxide produced during a
specific period of time. As such more carbon dioxide will be produced in a shorter time when the
boiling tube is in warmer conditions as opposed to colder conditions. As shown in the boiling
tube with crushed ice it slowed down the process, thus showing temperature is a factor.

Sources of Errors

1. Water used was not warm enough

2. Water used was not cold enough
3. Incorrect measurements

Limitations

1. Wind affected weight (mass) of yeast.

Precautions

1. Oxygen should not enter into the yeast

2. Oxygen must not enter into the cooled or boiled glucose solution.

Reflection

Anaerobic respiration is very important to humans, plants and even in cooking. Although it is a
process that is carried out with a lack of oxygen the very gas humans need to survive, this
process is still essential to life.

Conclusion
Yeast undergoes anaerobic respiration when placed in an environment lacking oxygen and with
the right temperature. As a result, carbon dioxide is produced which was observed when the
balloons expanded in the warm water bath.

References
Atwaroo-Ali, L 2014, Biology for CSEC Examinations, 3rd edition, Macmillan Education,
London

Fermentation and anaerobic respiration | Cellular respiration (article). (n.d.). Retrieved December
4, 2020, from https://www.khanacademy.org/science/ap-biology/cellular-energetics/cellular-
respiration-ap/a/fermentation-and-anaerobic-respiration

Effect of temperature on respiration. (2019, December 8). Vernier.

https://www.vernier.com/experiment/bwv-16a_effect-of-temperature-on-respiration/