Learning Intention 2: to learn about the chemistry of aerobic

respiration

Success Criteria
✓ I can state that respiration in yeast, plant and animal cells begins in the
cytoplasm where glucose is broken down to two molecules of pyruvate,
releasing enough energy to yield two molecules of ATP (N5)
✓ I can state that Oxygen may or may not be used in yeast, plant and animal
cells.(N4)
✓ I can state that further breakdown depends upon the presence/absence of
oxygen (N5)
✓ I can state that when oxygen is available, yeast, plant and animal cells use
glucose to produce carbon dioxide and water. (N4)
✓ I can describe that if oxygen is present, aerobic respiration takes place in the
mitochondria and each pyruvate is broken down to carbon dioxide and water,
releasing enough energy to yield a large number of ATP molecules (N5)
✓ I can explain that the higher the energy requirement of a cell the greater the
number of mitochondria present in that cell (N5)

Introduction

Respiration is a process that release energy from glucose through a series of

enzyme-controlled steps. It occurs in all types of living cell e.g. animal cells, plant
cells and yeast cells can all carry out respiration to make energy.
There are two types of respiration that can occur; one with oxygen present
(aerobic respiration) and on where oxygen is absent (fermentation).

Activity 1
Complete the activity below to show the word equation for aerobic respiration.

+ + +

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 Scientists can carry out experiments to prove that certain products are made by
aerobic respiration.

PRACTICAL 1 (proving carbon dioxide is made)

Germinating plant seeds (seeds that are beginning to grow!) can be used in experiments as
they carry out respiration.
The following experiment can be set up to show that carbon dioxide is produced.

Direction of air flow

Chemical to
remove CO2 Lime
from air water
entering

Lime
water Live germinating
seeds (e.g peas)

Questions on experiment shown above.

1. When carbon dioxide is present, describe the change that occurs in limewater?

2. Looking at the direction of air flow, which flask, B or D, will see the limewater turn
milky?

3. If a greater mass of germinating peas were added to flask C, would flask D turn milky
faster or slower than before?

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PRACTICAL 2 (proving energy is produced by respiration in living cells)
We have learnt so far that a small molecule that releases energy for cell activities is
produced. It is difficult to measure how much ATP is produced but one way a scientist can
prove that energy is being made is to measure any heat energy given off!

This experiment also shows that only living organisms carry out respiration!

The set up above shows two insulated flask (they don’t let the heat out!) that have been
set up; one (Flask A) with germinating seeds which are alive and another flask (B) with
seeds which are dead as they have been boiled.

1. Which flask contained living seeds?

2. Which flash saw the temperature increase?

3. Why did flask B not see an increase in temperature?

Challenge question!! Sometime scientists will add a disinfectant to the boiled seeds to
prevent an unwanted increase in temperature. Why do you think they might do this?

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In all living organisms (animals, plants and microbes!) respiration uses up glucose
and oxygen, and produce carbon dioxide water and ATP.
There are, however, two steps involved in this process!

Stage 1
• 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 mitochondria
• Oxygen MUST be present for this step to occur.
• The 2 molecules of pyruvate are broken down by enzymes into carbon
dioxide and water
• This reaction releases many ATP molecules! (36 in total!)

2x

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ACTIVITY 2
Label the following diagram to show the two stages of aerobic respiration
together.

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

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