Learning Intention 3: to learn about the chemistry of fermentation

Success Criteria
✓ I can describe that in the absence of oxygen, the fermentation pathway takes
place.
✓ I can state that in animal cells, the pyruvate molecules are converted to
lactate whilst in plant/yeast cells they are converted to carbon dioxide and
ethanol (N5)
✓ The breakdown of each glucose molecule via the fermentation pathway yields
only the initial two molecules of ATP and is completed in the cytoplasm (N5)
✓ Without oxygen, yeast and plant cells use glucose to produce alcohol and
carbon dioxide. Without oxygen, animal cells use glucose to produce lactic acid
(N5)
✓ I can summarise the process of fermentation in yeast/plants and animals using
word equations (N5)

Introduction
Sometimes oxygen is not readily available to animals or plants. This could be in
oxygen poor environments such as stagnant water or muddy soil. Oxygen may also
be in short supply if an animal is exercising vigorously and is unable to take in
enough oxygen to meet the demands of an increased rate of aerobic respiration.
This causes FERMENTATION to occur.

Fermentation (Anaerobic respiration) = is the breakdown of glucose in cells in

the absence of oxygen.
Unlike aerobic respiration, the fermentation pathway differs slightly between
animals and plants/yeast. Different final products are made.

Fermentation always takes place in the cytoplasm of a cell.

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Activity 1
Complete the fermentation word equations below to show the raw material
required and the products made.

In plants/yeast cells

Glucose → + +

In animal cells

Glucose → +

Activity 2
Watch the video from Fuse school on fermentation in yeast then answer the
questions below.
1.Which classification of microbe does yeast belong to?
(Hint: virus, bacteria or fungi?)

2. Name 3 food/drinks that humans can make using fermentation in yeast?

3. Name 3 products of fermentation in yeast.

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Activity 3
Human experience the effects of fermentation in their cells when vigorous exercise is
carried out.
Set a timer for two minutes and clench your fist repeatedly.

Describe how it felt in the box below!

What you were feeling was muscle fatigue! Pain and tiredness is experienced in our
muscles when lactate (produced from fermentation in animal cells) build up!

This experiment demonstrates that the products of fermentation in animals are lactate
and some energy!

PRACTICAL 1
The following experiment is used to show fermentation occurring in yeast cells. This
reaction also takes place in plants when no oxygen is available.

Complete the labels on the apparatus diagram below.

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Using the example results, record what would have happened after 24 hours in the results
table below.

Test Observations

At start After 24 hours

Smell of a sample from Yeasty

the flask

Appearance of lime water Colourless

Temperature of mixture 20
in flask (oC)

This experiment demonstrates that the products of fermentation in yeast (and plants!)
care carbon dioxide, ethanol and energy.

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Just like aerobic respiration, fermentation has two stages.

Stage 1 (the same as aerobic respiration!)

• Occurs in the cytoplasm
• Does not need oxygen
• One glucose is broken down by enzymes into 2
pyruvate molecules
• This reaction releases 2 ATP molecules

Stage 2
• Occurs in the cytoplasm
• Does not need oxygen
• No more ATP are produced!
• Animal cells produce lactate
• Plant/yeast cells produce ethanol and carbon dioxide

ACTIVITY 4
Complete the flow diagram below to show the process of fermentation.

Glucose

Stage 1 2 ATP

2 x pyruvate

Stage 2

Animals Plants/Yeast

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Self-Evaluation
I have learned the following new facts during this lesson

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