RESPIRATION as muscular contraction,

 It is the process by conduction of nerve

which food substances impulses, secretion of
are chemically broken enzymes, growth etc.
down in all living cells  Tissue respiration takes
to release energy, CO2, place mainly in cell
water or alcohol. organelles called
 It takes place in all mitochondria.
living cells and involves  Structure of
a series of complex Mitochondria
enzyme catalyzed  X
reactions.  Mitochondria are small
 NB- Respiration is a round or rod shaped cell
chemical process taking organelles found in cells
place inside tissue cells and provide sites for
while gaseous exchange respiratory activity.
is a purely physical  Living cells such as the
process which takes kidney cells, the flight
place at respiratory muscles of insects and
surfaces birds, the sperm cells
 Respiration is also called and muscle cells have
tissue respiration or high energy
internal respiration requirements and
 SIGNIFICANCE OF consequently posses’
RESPIRATION large number of
 It provides energy which mitochondria.
is obtained due to the  Mitochondrion has two
break down of food. membranes, the outer
Foods which can provide and inner membrane that
lots of energy are are separated by fluid
carbohydrates (starch filled spaces.
and glucose) and fats.  The inner membrane
 The energy derived from folds into projections
these food substances is inside the area for
used for activities such respiratory activities.
Page 1 of 16
 Enzymes are bound to inorganic phosphate
the cristae. molecule to form
 TYPES OF another compound called
RESPIRATION Adenosine
 There are two types: Triphosphate (ATP)
-Aerobic respiration
ADP +(PO4 )3- +Energy
-Anaerobic respiration
ATP (High Energymolecule)
(a) Aerobic
(Adenosine
respiration
Triphosphate
 It is the process in which (Adenosine Diphosphate)
food substances such as  Aerobic respiration can
glucose are broken down be summarized by the
in the presence of following equation
oxygen in tissue cells to  C6H12O6+6O2
release energy water and 6CO2+6H2O +Energy
carbon iv oxide. (ATP)
 The total energy released  Molecules of ATP store
at the end of respiration the energy released in
(oxidation) is very high. respiration in their bonds
 If all the energy were and avails it to cells
released at once in the readily when required.
form of heat it would  Activity 1: To
burn the body cells. To investigate what gas is
protect the cells from given off when food is
burning, the heat energy burnt
is released in small  Materials
quantities in stages.  Food sample (starch
 This energy is used to powder)
bring about a chemical  Source of heat
reaction in which a  Boiling tubes
compound in the cell  One holed rubber
called adenosine stopper
diphosphate (ADP)  Delivery tube
combines with an  Calcium hydroxide

Page 2 of 16
 Solution (lime water)
 Procedure
 Place some food sample
in a dry boiling tube and
insert a one-holed rubber
stopper into the mouth of
the tube.
 Hold the boiling tube
containing the food
sample horizontally.
 Pour a little calcium
hydroxide solution into
another boiling tube and
support it. Using a
delivery tube connect the
two boiling tube into the
lime water is as
illustrated in the figure
below:-
 Heat the boiling tube
containing the food
substance strongly.
 Observe and record
what happens to the food
sample, lime water and
the upper sides of the
Page 3 of 16
test tube with the food
sample
 Disconnect the apparatus
and rub anhydrous
cobalt II Chloride paper
on the inner upper side
of the boiling tube
containing the food
sample.
 Record the colour
change observed on the
cobalt II Chloride
 Discussion
 When the starch was
heated at the beginning,
some drops of water
were deposited on the
walls of the test tube.
This water comes from
starch
 When the food sample
was heated strongly, it
turned into a black
substance. This
substance is carbon.
 When carbon was heated
with the delivery tube
dipped in the boiling
tube containing lime
water, the lime water
turned to a white
precipitate/ became
cloudy/turbid. This is
due to the presence of
 carbon iv oxide in the  C6 H12O6 enzyme

gas that was produced. CH3COCOOH + 6O2

 The results indicate that
the food sample contains
Carbon, Hydrogen and
Oxygen (CHO)
 Respiration takes place
in two major phases i.e.
First phase (Glycolysis)
 The earliest stages of
respiration takes place
without using oxygen.
These stages involve a
series of chemical
reactions which occur in
the cytoplasm of the cell.
 A compound with a 3-
carbon molecule called
pyruvic acid is formed
from glucose.
 After pyruvic acid has
been formed and oxygen
is not supplied to the
CH3COCOOH
cell, pyruvic acid is
partially broken down to
6CO2 + 6H2O + ATP
lactic acid in animals or
 (Pyruvic acid)
ethyl alcohol (ethanol)
and CO2 in plants e.g.
X
 NB- In Glycolysis one
molecule of glucose
yields 8 molecules of
ATP
Page 4 of 16
6CO3
+6H2O + ATP (Pyruvic acid)
controlled reactions in cytoplasm
 Second phase (Kreb’s
cycle) citric acid cycle
 This phase takes place in
the matrix of the
mitochondria.
 It involves a series of
enzyme controlled
reactions that require
oxygen
 The pyruvic acid formed
in first phase is further
oxidized by oxygen in a
series of enzymatic
reactions into CO2,
Energy and water as end
products i.e.
+ 6O2
enzyme
Oxygen
controlled reactions carbon iv oxide
water30 molecules
 At the end of this cycle,
30 molecules of ATP are
produces thus at the end
of aerobic respiration, 38
ATP molecules are
 produced i.e. 8 ATPS –  Place a thermometer in
Glycolysis each flask such that the
bulb is surrounded by
 For the above process to seed
be maintained in the  Hold each thermometer
living cells, the with cotton wool and
following conditions are record the initial
necessary: - temperature
 Cells must be provided
 Record the temperature
with glucose/food
every morning and
 Oxygen must be taken
evening for a week.
in and react with glucose
 There must be
respiratory enzymes to
catalyze the reaction
 Favorable temperature
should be maintained for
efficient enzyme
functioning
 The end products of the
reaction i.e. CO2, water  Germinating seeds break
and energy must down stored
constantly be removed carbohydrates in the
from the mitochondrion. process of respiration in
order to get energy
 Expt: To show that which they require for
heat is produced growth.
during respiration  Some of the energy is
 Soak seeds for 24 hours released as heat; hence
and then divide them there will be temperature
into 2 equal portions rise in the flask
 Boil one portion of the containing germinating
seeds for 10 minutes, let seeds.
them cool and wash  The boiled seeds did not
them in 10% formalin produce any heat
Page 5 of 16
 because they didn’t carry form alcohol, CO2 and
out any respiration. energy.
 Before the experiment  In animals anaerobic
the seeds were respiration leads to the
disinfected with 10% formation of lactic acids
formalin to kill bacteria and energy e.g.
that would cause decay
of seeds C6H12O6
 The flasks were inverted 2C3H6O3+2O2 + energy
in order to prevent loss (Glucose) (lactic acid)
of heat. Warm air rises  NB the incomplete
up and if the flasks are breakdown of glucose in
not upside down, warm anaerobic respiration
air in the flask would result in the production
rise and lead to heat loss of less energy than in
from the germinating case of aerobic
seeds respiration.
 In the absence of O2,
 Anaerobic respiration
most plant and animal
 It occurs in the absence tissues can respire
of oxygen. In the plants anaerobically for a
glucose is oxidized in limited period.
the absence of O2 to give  It is essential that they
ethanol, CO2 and energy get rid of the end
e.g. products (lactic acid in
animals and ethanol in
C6H12O6 2C2H5OH +2CO+ plants) immediately.
energy(Glucose)(Ethanol) This is because these end
(Carbon IV oxide) products become toxic to
 Anaerobic respiration in the organism if left to
plants is also referred to accumulate within the
as Fermentation cells.
Fermentation occurs  Oxygen debt
when bacteria or fungi  This is the O2 required to
breakdown glucose to get rid of the lactic acid
Page 6 of 16
 that accumulates in the There are 2 types of
body tissues when the anaerobes.
supply of O2 is less than  Obligate anaerobes.
the demand.  Respire in the absence of
 Under these conditions O2 and die in the
the animal’s tissues presence of O2. They
respire through lack the enzyme
anaerobic respiration and catalysis which breaks
this causes lactic acid to down hydrogen
accumulate in the peroxide. (H2O2) e.g.
tissues.  Escherichia coli
 The lactic acid might  Bacillus subtilis
cause fatigue and result  Clostridium botulinum
in muscular cramps e.g.  Clostridium tetan.
When a short distance  Facultative anaerobes
runner or driver holds  Respire in the presence
his/her breathe while or absence of O2 e.g.
running or diving. The yeast, most bacteria,
O2 debt incurred here is parasites or fungi.
“paid” back by the Comparison between
person breathing more aerobic and anaerobic
quickly and more deeply Aerobic Anaerobic
in order to increase the respiration respiration
supply of O2 during the O2 is necessary O2 is not
recovery period after the for the process required
race. to take place hence
 During the process of hence a substrate is
paying back the O2 debt, complete not broken
lactic acid is oxidized to oxidation of down
CO2, water and energy the substrate completely
when O2 is available.
 Anaerobic organisms More energy Less energy
 The organisms that carry released ( 38 released (2
out anaerobic respiration ATP ATP
are called anaerobes. molecules) molecules)
Page 7 of 16
from one from one  Distillation of some of
glucose glucose the products of
molecule molecule. fermentation gives rise
Substrate is Substrate is to stronger alcoholic
completely not drinks called spirits e.g.
broken down completely Distilling wine makes
to CO2 and broken down brandy.
water producing In the dairy industry
lactic acid  Milk contains lactic acid
and alcohol bacteria which
The end End products anaerobiccaly breaks
products are are alcohol in down milk sugar called
water and CO2 plants. Lactic lactose to form lactic
acid in acid which makes the
animals. milk sour. The dairy
Occurs in Occurs in products include: cheese,
cytoplasm. cytoplasm butter, yoghurt and
Mitochondria cream.
Sewage treatment
Application of plants
anaerobic respiration  Certain bacteria are
Commercial introduced into the
production of alcohol sewage to break it down
 In the brewing industry, by anaerobic respiration.
barley is fermented with These reduce the bulk of
yeast to produce beer. the sewage which on
 In the wine industry, further treatment is
sugar from grapes is the purified and is safe for
source of germination. release into rivers or
Different strains of yeast water bodies.
are used during the In agriculture
anaerobic process to  The making of silage is
produce wines of an anaerobic
different flavours. fermentation process

Page 8 of 16
 which is carried out on
farms.
 Silage is prepared by
allowing bacteria to
ferment vegetation
giving it a good flavour
and scent. The silage is
used as animals feed.
Production of biogas
and gasohol
 Manures from cows or
other waste plant
materials can be used as
a substrate for
fermentation, producing
biogas which contains
70% methane. The gas
can be used for cooking
and lighting.
 Cane sugar is used to
produce gasohol in the
presence of yeast.
Gasohol can also be
pressed from ethanol.
Gasohol can be used on
its own to run engines.
In the home.
 In bread production for
domestic and
commercial use. During
fermentation using yeast,
CO2 produced in the
dough mixtures causes
the dough to rise as
bubbles of the gas are
Page 9 of 16
produced. Thus the
bread becomes porous.
Commercial
production of oxalic
acid, citric acid and
vinegar.
 These are produced
through anaerobic
respiration. Those
products are used in food
processing.
Fossil fuel formation.
 As the organic remains
take many years to
decay. Fossil fuel such
as natural oil, gas, coal
and peat are formed.
Expt: to investigate the
gas produced during
fermentation
 Boil about 20 cm3 of
glucose in a tube, cool to
40 Oc and add some
yeast.
 Pour onto the glucose
and yeast suspension
some kerosene oil.
Leave for about one
hour. ( several minutes)
 Put some lime water
(calcium hydroxide) in a
test tube and connect this
test tube to the boiling
tube using the delivery
tube. Rubber
 stopper as shown in the makes the lime water
diagram below appears turbid (white
precipitate is formed).
This is carbon iv oxide
Respiratory substrates
 They are substances that
are oxidized to release
energy. They are:
Carbohydrates
 They are the common
oxidized substrates.
Discussion Excess carbohydrates are
 The water was first stored in plants in the
boiled to expel any form of starch and in
dissolved oxygen to animals in the form of
prevent any aerobic glycogen.
respiration form taking  Carbohydrates are
place. broken down into simple
 Yeast being a living forms of glucose and
organism would be fructose before being
killed or its enzymes oxidized
denatured with hot  19% carbohydrates
water. This is the reason release 17kj when
for first cooling the oxidized.
water before the yeast is Fats
added to it.  They are oxidized when
 As the yeast respires in carbohydrates resources
the absence of O2, it uses are depleted. Fats are
up some of the sugar and broken down by
produces a gas and enzymes called lipases
ethanol. into glycerol and fatty
 The gas causes a lot of acids before being
frothing in the conical oxidized.
flask and some of it goes  Ig of fat yields 38kj
up the delivery tube and when oxidized. Most
Page 10 of 16
 food stored in plants and the amount of oxygen
animals is in the form of used in respiration i.e.
fats and lipids. R.Q= volume of CO2
 Fats are not the main produced
substrates of respiration Volume of O2 consumed
because:  During aerobic
 They are not very respiration of
soluble and therefore not carbohydrates the RQ=I
easily transported to the i.e.
sites of respiration.
 It will also require more
O2 to oxidize one gram  R.Q of fat= 0.7
of fat than one gram of  R.Q of proteins= 0.9
glucose  R.Q of Carbohydratest=
Proteins 1.0
 They are oxidized when Factors affecting
both carbohydrates and Respiratory quotient
fat reserves are (R.Q)
exhausted especially  Type of respiration-
during prolonged Aerobic respiration gives
starvation. Proteins are an R.Q of 1.0 or less
hydrolyzed by enzyme while anaerobic
protease into amino respiration gives an R.Q
acids. The amino acids greater than 1.0.
are denominated to urea  Type of substrate-
and a carboxyl group. Oxidation of
 One gram of protein carbohydrates gives an
produces 22kj when R, Q of 1.0, proteins 0.9,
oxidized. lipids 0.7.
Respiratory  Metabolic processes
quotient (R.Q)  Synthesis of fats,
 It’s a ratio showing the carbohydrates and
relationship between the organic acids use a lot of
amount of carbon IV oxygen to produce low
oxide produced against volumes of CO2.
Page 11 of 16
 During seed dormancy
the R.Q is more than
1.0.During germination
the value of R.Q reduces
to 0.7.
 Hibernation-It’s the
state of inactivity during
winter when animals
burrow underground to
escape the low
temperatures.
 During this time the
animals are less active.
The major substrate
respired are fats.
 Aestivation- It’s the
state of inactivity during
which some animals
burrow to escape hot
weather.
 (g) Age--R.Q increases
when one becomes
older.
 Temperature of the
surrounding-R.Q will
be lower in low
temperatures and higher
during higher
temperatures.
 Health status of
organism-During
sickness R.Q increases
due to the effect of the
infection such as the
presence of toxins.
Page 12 of 16
 Factors affecting the
rate of respiration
 Age
 Young people are more
active than old people.
The rate of respiration or
metabolism is faster in
young people than in old
people.
 Young plants have a
faster rate of respiration
than old plants.
 State of health
 The rate of metabolism
increases during illness
so as to remove toxic
substances released by
pathogens.
 Size
 Small animals have a
large surface area to
volume ratio compared
to bigger animals. Small
animals lose heat at a
faster rate thus they
respire at a faster rate to
replace the lost heat.
 Temperature
 Respiration is an enzyme
controlled reaction. At
low temperatures, the
rate of respiration is low.
An increase in
temperature increases
the rate of respiration.
 Above the optimal
temperature, enzymes
become denatured and
the reaction stops.
 Activity
 An organism at rest
mainly requires energy
for sustaining of life
processes e.g. breathing
and circulation of blood.
This energy is referred to
as Basal Metabolic Rate
(BMR)
 BMR increases in active
organisms. In humans,
males have a higher
BMR than females.
 Hormones
 Certain hormones in the
body such as adrenaline
and Thyroxine increase
respiratory activities.
 Substrate
concentration
 The primary respiratory
substrate in the tissues is
sugar. When sugar
concentration increases,
the rate of respiration
also increases. The
reverse is also true.
 Oxygen concentration
 Respiration is affected
by the amount of oxygen
Page 13 of 16
available in the tissues.
When the amount of
oxygen is low the rate of
respiration slows down.
When the amount of
oxygen is high the rate
of respiration increases.
 In diving animals the
oxygen concentration in
their environment is low
hence as soon as they
dive, cardiac frequency
drastically decreases
(bradycardia) and the
arterioles of all the vital
body organs constrict so
that oxygen can be
delivered to the vital
organs that cannot
endure oxygen
deprivation e.g. the brain
and the heart.
 As a result of this, less
oxygen reaches other
body tissues and organs
hence their respiration
rate reduces.
 Expt; To demonstrate
that respiration takes
place in plants
 Procedure
 Set up the apparatus as
shown below

 The delivery tubes
should be arranged so
that one arm forms the
inlet and the other outlet.
 Use petroleum jelly or
wax to seal off any gaps
in the tubes to stop air
entering into the
apparatus.
 The potted plant is
placed under the bell jar
and the bell jar is
covered with the
impermeable materials
to exclude any carbon iv
oxide from the soil.
 When the filter pump is
switched on, air flows
through the whole set
up.
 NB Soda lime is used to
remove any carbon iv
oxide in the air entering
conical flask A hence
lime water in A remains
clear.
Page 14 of 16
 After 30 minutes, a
white precipitate forms
in the lime water in
conical flask B. this
shows that the potted
plant is respiring
producing carbon iv
oxide which reacts with
lime water to produce
the white precipitate.
 The black cotton
prevents the green plant
from carrying out
photosynthesis.
Expt; To show aerobic
respiration in animals
 Put some 2cm³ of
bicarbonate indicator
solution in 2 conical
flasks and label them A
and B.
 Put 2 grasshoppers on a
muslin cloth or wire net
and place them in
conical flask A. Cover
the conical flask
immediately with the
rubber bung.

 In conical flask B place
only a muslin cloth or
wire net. Cover the
conical flask
immediately with the
rubber bung and leave
the set-up for 30
minutes.
 After 30 minutes the
bicarbonate indicator
solution in A turns from
red to yellow. This
shows that grasshoppers
are releasing carbon iv
oxide through
respiration.
 The bicarbonate
indicator solution in B
remains red. Set-up B
acts as a control
experiment.

Page 15 of 16
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