KEY CONCEPTS

★ Cellular respiration is a biological process where cells break down food substances in order to

release energy needed by the living cells. The chemical reaction is 𝐶6𝐻12𝑂6 + 6𝑂2 → 6𝐶𝑂2 +

6𝐻2𝑂 + 38 𝐴𝑇𝑃 𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑦.

★ It occurs in the mitochondria of the cell.

★ The end goal of respiration is the production of the energy molecules ATP or Adenosine

Triphosphate. ATP is a complex organic chemical that serves as the “energy currency” of

many cellular processes.

★ Cell respiration occurs in three stages; Glycolysis, Citric acid cycle (Kreb’s cycle), and Electron

transport chain.

● Glycolysis – is the breaking down of glucose into two pyruvates with the production

of 2 ATP.

● Citric Acid Cycle, also known as the Krebs Cycle- It is a series of processes wherein

Acetyl- CoA undergoes oxidation to produce more energy (ATP).

● Electron Transport Chain – It is the process by which NADH and FADH are oxidized

thus releasing energy or ATP.

★ Check Table 5: Summary of the reactants and products of the stages of the cell respiration.

★ Aerobic respiration – breakdown of food substances in the presence of oxygen with the

release of a large amount of energy. Carbon dioxide and water are released as waste

products.

★ Anaerobic respiration – breakdown of food substances in the absence of oxygen. Anaerobic

respiration releases less energy than anaerobic respiration.

★ Anaerobic respiration leads to either alcoholic fermentation (ethanol and carbon dioxide) or

lactic acid fermentation.

★ Cell respiration is related to photosynthesis because the requirement of photosynthesis is

the product of cell respiration and vice versa.

★ Cell respiration provides living things the essential energy needed to perform life functions.
Photosynthesis chemical formula:

6CO₂+12 H₂O light energy→C₆H₁₂O₆+6O₂+6H₂O

Cell respiration chemical formula:

C₆H₁₂O₆+6O₂+6O₂→6CO₂+6 H₂O+ATP Energy