Ch: Respiration in Organisms

1. What is cellular respiration? Where does it take place? Write the

word equation for respiration. Compare it with the process of
photosynthesis.
The chemical process of breakdown of food in the cell in the presence of
oxygen with the release of energy and waste products like CO 2 and water
is called cellular respiration. It takes place in cells of all the living
organisms. Word equation for respiration is:

Glucose + Oxygen  Carbon + Water + Energy

dioxide

from the from the waste waste Useful

digestive breathing product product
system system exhaled exhaled

Similarity between Photosynthesis and Respiration:

 Both photosynthesis and respiration involve production of energy.
There is conversion of energy from one form to another through a
series of biochemical reaction.
 They both involve exchange of gases.
 Both the processes are controlled by energy

Difference between photosynthesis and respiration:

Photosynthesis Respiration
Food made Food broken down
Energy from sunlight stored in Stored energy in glucose released
glucose
CO2 taken in CO2 and H2O given off
O2 given off O2 taken in
In the presence of chlorophyll – Occurs in all living organisms
plants only
Light needed No light needed

Equations comparison:

Photosynthesis:
Carbon dioxide + Water + Energy  Glucose _+ Oxygen
6CO2 + 6 H2O + light energy  C6H12O6 + 6O2

Respiration:
Glucose + Oxygen  Carbon dioxide + Water + Energy
C6H12O6 + 6O2  6CO2 + 6 H2O + ATP
2. Does our body also respire anaerobically? If yes, then under what
conditions and what are the end products of anaerobic respiration?

Yes, our body also respire anaerobically.

Our muscle cells respire anaerobically, but only for a short time, when
there is a temporary deficiency of oxygen. During heavy exercise, fast
running, cycling, walking for many hours or heavy weight lifting, the
demand for energy is high. But the supply of oxygen to produce the
energy is limited. Then anaerobic respiration takes place in the muscle
cells to fulfil the demand of energy.
End product of anaerobic respiration is Lactic acid.

3. a) Why do we get muscle cramps after heavy exercise?

b) How does hot water bath or massage give relief to muscle cramps?
a. The cramps occur when muscle cells respire anaerobically. This brings
about partial breakdown of glucose to produce lactic acid which
accumulates in the muscles. The accumulation of lactic acid causes
muscle cramps.
Glucose in the absence of oxygen lactic acid + energy
(in muscle)
b. We get relief from cramps after a hot water bath or a massage. Hot
water bath or massage improves the circulation of blood in muscles. As a
result, the supply of oxygen to the muscle cells increases. The increase in
the supply of oxygen results in the complete breakdown of lactic acid into
carbon dioxide and water and gives us relief from cramps.

4. Why do we feel hungry after heavy exercise?

This is because to provide extra energy for doing heavy exercise, the food
has broken down very rapidly by faster breathing and that made us feel
hungry. Hence in order to gain more energy we need to eat more food.

5. Why do we yawn when we are sleepy or drowsy?

When we feel sleepy or drowsy, we do not breathe as deeply as we

normally do and hence our breathing rate slows down. Due to slower
breathing rate, less oxygen enters our body which is insufficient for
respiration. The deep breath associated with yawning helps us to draw in
more oxygen and supply the much needed oxygen to the tired body
organs including the brain.
6. Draw the diagram of human respiratory system.

7. Differentiate between
a. Aerobic and anaerobic respiration
b. Breathing and respiration
c. Inhalation and exhalation
Sn Aerobic Respiration Anaerobic respiration
Sno Breathing Respiration
o1 It takes place in the presence It takes place in the absence of
Sn1 It of oxygen
is Inhalation
a physical process It oxygen
is a Exhalation
biochemical process
o 2 involving
It exchange ofcomplete
involves oxygen involving
It involvesoxidation of glucose of
partial breakdown to
1 Takingand carbon
breakdown dioxide
of food
in oxygen rich air carbon
food out
Giving dioxide
carbonand waterrich air
dioxide
2 23 Diaphragm
Energy
The endis products
not released
muscles are Energy
The endisproducts
carbonDiaphragm
contract released may be
muscles alcohol
relax and
3 and
dioxide
It takes place
and water
outside
diaphragm flattens out the cells and
It takes
carbon
place dioxide
within
diaphragm arches upward the
(as cells
in yeast)
4 Enzymes are not involved
3 Muscles between the ribs Muscles or lacticbetween
Respiratoryacid (asthe
in muscles)
enzymes are
ribs (intercostal
4 (intercostal
It producesmuscles)
a lot of energy Much less
involved
contract muscles) energy
relax and is
ribproduced
cage movesin
and rib cage moves upwards downwards this type ofandrespiration
inwards
and outwards
4 Volume of chest cavity Volume of chest cavity decreases,
increases, lungs expand and lungs contract and air is forced out of
air flows into the lungs lungs

8. How does exchange of gases takes place in plants?

Plants do not have any specialised organs for gaseous exchange but they
have stomata and lenticels for this purpose. All the parts in plant can
independently respire that is take in oxygen and give out carbon dioxide.

Plants exchange gases

 through

stomata lenticels root hair

on on on
leaves and woody roots
herbaceous stems
stems

9. What will happen if a potted plant is overwatered?

If a potted plant is over-watered for a long time, then the plant may
ultimately die. This is because too much water expels all the air present
between the soil particles. Due to this, oxygen is not available to the roots
for aerobic respiration. Under these conditions, the roots of plant respire
anaerobically producing alcohol. This may kill the plant.

10. How do the following breathe/exchange gases?

a. Cockroach & Mosquito
(for insects air enters and leaves through spiracles and gaseous
exchange takes place through trachea)
enters diffusion
Oxygen  Spiracles  Trachea Tissues  Cells  Respiration 

diffusion
Carbon dioxide  Trachea  Spiracles  Exhalation

b. Earthworm
(gaseous exchange takes place through moist skin)
diffusion
Oxygen  Moist skin BloodCellsRespiration Carbon
dioxide

diffusion
 Blood  Moist skin  Exhalation

c. Frog – gaseous exchange takes place through lungs and moist skin
d. Lizard & Snake – for reptiles’ gaseous exchange takes place
through lungs
e. Snail - gaseous exchange takes place through skin and gills
(aquatic) or gills reduced as simple lung (land)
f. Fish
(gaseous exchange takes place through gills)
 enters absorbs oxygen
Water  Mouth Gills Blood  Cells  Respiration Carbon
dioxide  Blood  Gills  Exhalation

11. How do fish get oxygen deep under the water?

a. Fish have gills for breathing.
b. Gills are projection of skin. Gills have blood vessels for the
exchange of respiratory gases (oxygen and carbon dioxide).
c. The fish breathes by taking in water through its mouth and sending
it over the gills.
d. When water passes over the gills, the gills extract dissolved oxygen
from this water. The oxygen is absorbed by the blood and carried
to all the parts.
e. The carbon dioxide produced is brought back and expelled into the
surrounding water.

12. Why does the cell need energy?

Ans – Energy is required by the body cells for carrying out various life
processes such as nutrition, transport, excretion, reproduction and beating
of heart.

13. Why do we respire?

Ans – We are made up of small microscopic units called the cells. These
cells have to perform various functions for which they need energy. Food
provides the required energy. The energy present in food is released
during the process of respiration.

14. How do insects respire?

Ans –
a. Insects have tiny holes on the sides of their body called spiracles
which are connected to network of air tubes called trachea.
b. Air enters into the insect through spiracles which then goes into the
trachea.
c. From trachea the oxygen diffuses into the body tissues of insect
and reaches each and every cell of its body where it is utilized in
respiration.
d. Carbon dioxide produced during respiration in the cells diffuses
into trachea and carried to the spiracles where it is expelled in the
process of breathing.

15. What happens to the chest cavity during inhalation and exhalation?
Ans – During inhalation the space in our chest cavity increases. The lungs
expand and air flows into the lungs. During exhalation the space in our
 chest cavity decreases. The lungs contracts and air is forced out of the
lungs.

16. Explain the process of exhalation. What are the components of exhaled
air? How much air a person can hold in lungs?
Ans – The process of releasing carbon dioxide rich air is called as
exhalation. The diaphragm muscles relax and diaphragm arches upward.
The muscles between the ribs relax and the rib cage to moves downwards
and inwards. Volume of the chest cavity decreases. The lungs contracts
and air is forced out of the lungs.

Components of exhaled air are Oxygen (16.4%), Nitrogen (78%), Inert

gas (<1%), Carbon dioxide (4.4%) and more water vapor.

During normal breathing we taken in 0.5 l of air. This is called tidal

volume. During deep breathing (maximum effort of breathing), we take in
6 litres of air. This is total lung capacity. (1 l = 1000 ml)

17. Why is the skin of frog moist and slippery?

Ans – Frog skin secretes mucus that helps keep its skin moist. Mucus
makes frog’s skin slippery or slimy. Frogs must keep their skin moist.
Otherwise, oxygen can’t pass easily through it and the frog suffocates.

18. What is breathing rate? What is the average breathing rate of an adult at
rest?
Ans – Number of times a person breathes in a minute is called breathing
rate. The average breathing rate of an adult is 15-18 times per minute.
One breath is equal to one inhalation + one exhalation.

19. Does breathing rate always remain constant? Give reason.

Ans – No, breathing rate does not remain constant. The breathing rate
changes according to the requirement of oxygen by the body. For
example, it is slowest when person is sleeping because minimum energy
is required by the body. The breathing rate increases with increased
physical activity. During heavy exercise, the breathing rate increases upto
25 times per minute.

20. What are anaerobes? Give examples.

Ans – Few living organisms carry out breakdown of glucose without the
use of oxygen. These organisms are called anaerobes. Example: yeast,
certain bacteria.

21. Fill in the blanks:

a. Living organisms carry out respiration to gain energy.
b. Glucose is broken down using oxygen during aerobic respiration.
c. Breathing is a physical process while respiration is a biochemical
process.
d. Lungs are protected by rib cage.
e. Earthworms respire through moist skin
f. Fish have gills for exchange of gases.
g. One breath = One inhalation + one exhalation
 NCERT QUESTIONS

1. Why does an athlete breathe faster and deeper than usual after finishing
the race?
Ans - This is because during the race leg muscles of athletes have
produced extra energy by doing anaerobic respiration. By breathing faster
and deeper, the athlete is giving back oxygen to the muscles which it
could not give earlier at the time of running due to lack of oxygen at that
time.

2. List the similarities between aerobic and anaerobic respiration.

Ans –
 There is breakdown of food like glucose.
 Energy is produced by the breakdown of food.
 They take place in the cells of the organism.

3. Why do we often sneeze when we inhale a lot of dust-laden air?

Ans –
 The air around us has various types of unwanted particles such as
smoke, dust, pollens etc.
 When we inhale the particles get trapped in the hair present in our
nasal cavity.
 However, sometimes these particles may get past the hair in the
nasal cavity.
 Then they irritate the lining of the cavity, as a result of which we
sneeze.
 Sneezing expels these foreign particles from the inhaled air and a
dust free, clean air enters our body.

4. Take three test-tubes. Fill ¾th of each with water. Label them A, B and
C. Keep a snail in test-tube A, a water plant in test-tube B and in C, keep
snail and plant both. Which test-tube would have the highest
concentration of CO2?
Ans –
 The test tube A will have the highest concentration of carbon
dioxide. The carbon dioxide (CO2) comes because of respiration by
snail.
 The test tube B contains a water plant, which takes CO2 released by
respiration for photosynthesis and gives out O2. Hence, more O2
concentration is seen in test tube B. It has the least concentration of
CO2.
 The test tube C contains both snail and a water plant. The CO 2
produced by the snail is utilized by the plant for the photosynthesis
and the O2 released by the plant is utilized by snail for respiration.
  Therefore, the test tube A will have the highest concentration of
carbon dioxide.

5. Tick the correct answer:

(a) In cockroaches, air enters the body through
(i) lungs (ii) gills (iii) spiracles (iv) skin

(b) During heavy exercise, we get cramps in the legs due to the
accumulation of
(i) carbon dioxide (ii) lactic acid (iii) alcohol (iv) water

(c) Normal range of breathing rate per minute in an average adult person
at rest is:
(i) 9–12 (ii) 15–18 (iii) 21–24 (iv) 30–33

(d) During exhalation, the ribs

(i) move outwards (ii) move downwards
(iii) move upwards (iv) do not move at all

6. Match the items in Column I with those in Column II:

Column I Column II
(a) Yeast – (iii) (i) Earthworm
(b) Diaphragm – (iv) (ii) Gills
(c) Skin – (i) (iii) Alcohol
(d) Leaves – (v) (iv) Chest cavity
(e) Fish – (ii) (v) Stomata
(f) Frog – (vi) (vi) Lungs and skin
(vii) Trachea - Insects

7. Mark ‘T’ if the statement is true and ‘F’ if it is false

i. During heavy exercise the breathing rate of a person slows down.
False. Breathing rate increases.
ii. (ii) Plants carry out photosynthesis only during the day and
respiration only at night. False. Respiration occurs during both
day and night.
iii. Frogs breathe through their skins as well as their lungs. True
iv. The fishes have lungs for respiration. False. They have gills.
v. The size of the chest cavity increases during inhalation. True

8. Given below is a square of letters in which are hidden different words

related to respiration in organisms. These words may be present in any
direction— upwards, downwards, or along the diagonals. Find the words
for your respiratory system. Clues about those words are given below the
square
 i. The air tubes of insects - Trachea
ii. Skeletal structures surrounding chest cavity – Rib Cage
iii. Muscular floor of chest cavity - Diaphragm
iv. Tiny pores on the surface of leaf - Stomata
v. Small openings on the sides of the body of an insect - Spiracles
vi. The respiratory organs of human beings - Lungs
vii. The openings through which we inhale - Nostrils
viii. An anaerobic organism - Yeast
ix. An organism with tracheal system - Ant

9. The mountaineers carry oxygen with them because:

a. At an altitude of more than 5 km there is no air.
b. The amount of air available to a person is less than that
available on the ground.
c. The temperature of air is higher than that on the ground.
d. The pressure of air is higher than that on the ground.
 NCERT Exemplar

1. Sometimes when we do heavy exercise, anaerobic respiration takes place in

our muscle cells. What is produced during this process?
(a) alcohol and lactic acid (b) alcohol and CO2
(c) lactic acid and CO2 (d) lactic acid only

2. Yeast is used in wine and beer industries because it respires

(a) aerobically producing oxygen (b) aerobically producing alcohol
(c) anaerobically producing alcohol (d) anaerobically producing CO2

3. During the process of exhalation, the ribs move

(a) down and inwards (b) up and inwards
(c) down and outwards (d) up and outward

4. Breathing is a process that

(i) provides O2 to the body.
(ii) breaks down food to release energy.
(iii) helps the body to get rid of CO2.
(iv) produces water in the cells.
Which of the following gives the correct combination of functions of
breathing?
(a) (i) and (ii) (b) (ii) and (iii)
(c) (i) and (iii) (d) (ii) and (iv)

5. Fish breathe with the help of gills which are richly supplied with blood
vessels. The gills help the fish to
(a) take in oxygen from air (b) take in oxygen dissolved in
water
(c) absorb nutrients present in water (d) release waste substances in water

6. Earthworms and frogs breathe through their skin because of which the skin
of both the organisms is
(a) moist and rough (b) dry and rough
(c) dry and slimy (d) moist and slimy

7. Mark the following statements as True or False. Correct the false statements.
(a) Oxygen breaks down glucose outside the cells of organisms. False.
Oxygen breaks down glucose inside the cells of organisms
(b) Frogs can breathe through their skin as well as lungs. True
(c) Insects have spiracles on the lower surface of the body. False. Insects
have spiracles on sides of their body.
(d) Exhaled air has more percentage of CO2 than inhaled air. True
 8. Fill in the blanks with suitable words.
(a) The roots of a plant take up oxygen from the air trapped between the soil
particles.
(b) Diaphragm forms the floor of the chest cavity.
(c) Exchange of gases in the leaves take place with the help of stomata
(d) Cockroaches breathe with the help of air tubes called tracheae

9. Pick the odd-one-out from each of the groups given below on the basis of
respiratory organs. Give reason for your answer.
(a) cockroach, grasshopper, snail, ant
(b) lizard, cow, earthworm, snake
(c) crocodile, whale, dolphin, fish
(d) snake, tadpole, crow, goat
Ans –
(a) Snail – because snail does not breath by trachea whereas cockroach,
grasshopper and ants breathe by trachea
(b) Earthworm – because it breathes through its skin and it does not have
lungs,
(c) Fish – because fish don’t have lungs and they breathe by their gills
(d) Tadpole – because tadpoles don’t have lungs and they breathe by their
gills.

10. Which gas present in air is essential for aerobic respiration? What is the role
of oxygen during respiration?
Ans – Atmospheric oxygen is essential for the process of aerobic respiration.
Respiration is important because oxygen breaks down food and releases
energy.

11. On an average, an adult human being at rest breathes 15–18 times per
minute. The breathing rate, however, may differ under different conditions.
Arrange the following activities given in the box in order of increasing
breathing rates and give reason for your answer.
sleeping, cycling, brisk walk, watching T.V.
Ans – Sleeping > Watching TV> Brisk Walk > Cycling

12. On a very cold morning, Boojho and Paheli were talking with each other as
they walked down to their school. They observed that the air coming out of
their mouth looked like smoke. They were amused and wondered how it
happened. Help them find the answer.
Ans – When the climate is cold, warm and moist air exhaled by us condenses
into mist when it comes in contact with the cold air of the atmosphere. This
looks like smoke coming out of our mouth,

13. Whenever we feel drowsy or sleepy, we start yawning. Does yawning help
us in anyway?
 Ans – same as in Q 5 (notebook question)

14. Insects and leaves of a plant have pores through which they exchange gases
with the atmosphere. Can you write two points of differences between these
pores with respect to their position, number and extension into the body.
Ans –
a. Spiracles are present on the sides of insect’s body while stomata are
present on the lower surface of leaves
b. Spiracles are fewer in number as compared to stomata.
c. Spiracles are connected to network of air tubes called trachea which is
absent in leaves.

15. Paheli participated in a 400 m race competition held at her school and won
the race. When she came home she had mixed feelings of joy and pain as she
had cramps in her leg muscles. After a massage she was relieved of the pain.
Answer the following questions related to the situation.
(a) What can be the possible reasons for the pain in her legs?
(b) Why did she feel comfortable after a massage?
Ans – same as Q 3 (notebook question)

16. Observe Figure carefully and answer the following questions.

(a) Which process is being tested in the activity?

(b) What is the result of the activity? Give reasons

Ans –
a. The experiment is used to test exhalation process during respiration
 b. Lime water turns milky in test tube B and test tube A remains
unchanged because CO2 is present in the exhaled air mixes with lime
water in B and turns its milky.

17. A food stall owner was preparing dough for making bhaturas. He added a
pinch of yeast and sugar to the dough and left it in a warm place. After few
hours, the dough had risen. There was a sour smell too.
(a) Why did the dough rise?
(b) Why did the dough smell sour?
(c) Why was sugar added to the dough?
(d) What would have happened if the dough was kept in the refrigerator,
soon after it was prepared?
Ans –
a. CO2 produced by yeast during respiration makes the dough rise.
b. During anaerobic respiration yeast produces alcohol. This gives sour
smell to dough
c. Sugar acts as food for yeast
d. If kept in refrigerator, yeast will not respire and multiply and the dough
will not rise and will not produce sour smell.

18. Observe the figures given as Figure 10.3 (A) and (B) and answer the
following.

(a) Which of the figures A or B indicates the process of inhalation and

which the process of exhalation?
(b) In the figure label the arrows and indicate the direction of
(i) movement of air
(ii) movement of diaphragm
(iii) movement of ribs
Ans –
a) Figure A indicates inhalation and B indicates exhalation
 b)

19. Match the names of organisms in Column I with their organs of breathing
given in Column II.

a – iii), b – iv), c- i) , d – ii)