CLASS VII

IMPORTANT DIFFERENCES ON RESPIRATION:

Difference Between Respiration and Combustion

Respiration  Combustion

Glucose is broken down in living

Combustion of substances such as wood
cells with the process called
and kerosene releases lots of energy. 
respiration. 

Inside the cells, many chemicals

participate in the long chains of
reactions to breakdown glucose It is not a process taking place inside our
into simpler substances and the cells.
energy released in different steps
is saved in the form of ATP.

It takes place in a controlled

It is an uncontrollable process.
manner inside the cells.

Heat is produced in the cellular

respiration. Example, the rate of
It produces energy as waste and heat.
respiration increases when we
exercise and we feel warmer.

It is less efficient as compared to the

It is much more efficient.
respiration process.

Different chemicals break glucose

Heat breaks down glucose
step by step.

It produces a large amount of

It produces energy waste as heat.
energy stored as chemical energy.

The temperature during combustion can

If temperature is allowed to rise,
be very high and usually higher than
the cell may damage.
respiration.

One of the examples is aerobic Its examples: Combustion of oxygen and

respiration that occurs in the hydrogen leading to the formation of
presence of oxygen; and in life water vapour; when we ignite the gas
processes, glucose and oxygen is stove for cooking food; motor vehicle
converted to carbon dioxide, burning petrol and diesel for motion;
water and energy from burning wood for fire and producing
respiration.  heat.

Respiration uses glucose to give

Any substance which can burn leads to a
pyruvate and then carbon
combustion process.
dioxide. 

ATP is the byproduct of

It produces heat energy which is
respiration as energy is trapped in
instantly utilised.
the form of ATP in respiration.

It produces oxides as smoke formation

There is no smoke formation.
takes place.

Respiration vs Breathing
Comparison
Breathing  Respiration
Basis
Breathing is the process of
inhaling oxygen from the
Definition environment and exhaling
carbon dioxide back to it with
the help of the lungs.
It is a biophysical voluntary
process which happens in two
Process
stages i) inhalation and ii)
exhalation.
Where does it It takes place in the lungs or
take place? gills.
Energy No energy is produced in this
production process.
It is a process where
glucose and oxygen are
broken down to produce
energy which is used for
cellular activities.
It is a biochemical
involuntary process which
takes place through i)
glycolysis ii) Krebs cycle.
It takes place in cells.
Energy is produced in the
form of ATP
Cellular Breathing is an extracellular Respiration is an
activity process. intracellular process.
There are no enzymes used in Many enzymes play a
Enzymes used 
this process.  major role in respiration.
Organs or
It takes place through the
systems It takes place in each cell.
respiratory system. 
associated: 

Important Difference between Aerobic And Anaerobic Respiration

Aerobic Anaerobic
Basis of Comparison
Respiration Respiration

It is the
breakdown of It is the
glucose in the breakdown of
presence of glucose in the
Meaning
oxygen to absence of
generate more oxygen in order to
amount of generate energy.
energy.

Cytoplasm to
Occurrence Only cytoplasm
mitochondria

A high amount Less amount is

Energy
is produced produced
Final Product 37 ATP 2 ATP

C6H12O6  +
6O2 → 6CO2  + C6H12O6  →
Chemical Equation
6H2O + energy 2C3H6O3 + Energy
(as ATP)

Lactic acid (animal

cells), carbon
Carbon dioxide
Final Product dioxide and
and water
ethanol (plants
cells)

Doesn’t require
Oxygen and
oxygen but uses
Requires glucose to
glucose for
produce energy
producing energy

Speed Long Process Fast Process

Occurs in many Occurs in human

Example plants and muscle cells,
animals bacteria, etc.