Respiration is one of the most important chemical processes that takes place in all living organisms, including plants, animals, and humans, in order to release energy that is required for the various processes of life to occur. The process of respiration takes place both in the presence and absence of oxygen in the environment.
For example, human beings go through the process of respiration, which involves inhaling oxygen gas and exhaling carbon dioxide gas in order to survive. In addition to humans and other living organisms, such as plants and animals, the process of respiration is used to obtain energy for their metabolic activities.
Aerobic respiration and anaerobic respiration are the two types of respiration that occur.
Aerobic respiration – It is important to understand that aerobic respiration is a type of cellular respiration that occurs in the presence of oxygen gas in order to generate energy from food. Aerobic digestion is another term for this process. This type of respiration is found in the majority of plants and animals, including birds, humans, and other mammalian species. As a result of this process, water and carbon dioxide are produced, which are both water-soluble substances.
•Anaerobic respiration is a type of respiration that occurs when there is no oxygen present in the air. The energy required for this process is obtained through the breakdown of glucose in the absence of oxygen. A good example of anaerobic respiration is the fermentation process in yeast, which is one of the most well-known examples of the processes.
Aerobic respiration
Aerobic Respiration is defined as follows:
“Aerobic respiration is the process of generating cellular energy in the presence of oxygen,” says the National Institute of Health.
Food glucose is converted into energy through aerobic respiration, which occurs when there is enough oxygen present in the environment to support it. Aerobic respiration is represented by the chemical equation shown below :-
Glucose (C6H12O6) + Oxygen 6(O2) → Carbon-dioxide 6(CO2) + Water 6 (H2O) + Energy (ATP)
In accordance with the chemical equation provided above, energy is released through the splitting of glucose molecules with the assistance of oxygen gas. At the conclusion of a chemical reaction, energy, water molecules, and carbon dioxide gas are released as by-products or end products of the reaction, depending on how the reaction is conducted.
During the process of breaking down the glucose molecule, 2900 kJ of energy is released, and this energy is then used to produce ATP – Adenosine Triphosphate molecules, these substances are then utilised by the body to perform various functions.
In all multicellular organisms, including animals, plants, and other living organisms, the process of aerobic respiration is carried out at some point.
The stomata, which are found in the epidermis of the leaves and stem of a plant, are responsible for allowing oxygen gas to enter the plant cells during the respiration process. All green plants synthesise their food with the assistance of the photosynthesis process, which releases energy in the process.
The chemical equation given below describes the entire process of photosynthesis, also known as aerobic respiration in plants.
Carbon-dioxide 6(CO2) + Water 6 (H2O) → Glucose (C6H12O6) + Oxygen 6(O2)
Steps in the Process of Aerobic Respiration
The entire process of aerobic respiration is divided into four distinct stages, as follows:
•Glycolysis
Glycolysis is the first step in aerobic respiration and takes place within the cytosol of the cell, where it is the most active. In the course of the glycolysis process, the glucose molecules split and are separated into two ATP molecules and two NADH molecules, which are then used in the course of the aerobic respiration procedure.
•Formation of Acetyl Coenzyme A
The formation of acetyl coenzyme A is the second step in the process of aerobic respiration. In this process, pyruvate is oxidised in the mitochondria, resulting in the formation of a 2-carbon acetyl group. The newly formed 2-carbon acetyl group reacts with coenzyme A, resulting in the formation of acetyl coenzyme A.
•The Citric Acid Cycle is a cycle in which the production of citric acid takes place.
The citric acid cycle, also known as the Krebs cycle, is the third step in aerobic respiration. It is the most crucial step in the process. During this stage of aerobic respiration, the oxaloacetate reacts with the acetyl-coenzyme A to form citric acid, which is then excreted. The citric acid cycle consists of a series of reactions that result in the production of two molecules of carbon dioxide, one molecule of ATP, and reduced forms of NADH and FADH, among other things.
•ETC stands for Electron Transport Chain.
This is the final step in the process of aerobic respiration. When the electrons from NADH and FADH are transferred to ATP molecules, a large number of ATP molecules are produced during this phase. A single molecule of glucose generates a total of 34 ATP molecules in its metabolism.
The Most Important Facts About Aerobic Respiration
•In biology, aerobic respiration refers to the process of using oxygen to break down glucose, amino acids, and fatty acids in order to produce ATP.
•In the mitochondrial matrix, pyruvate is converted to acetyl CoA, which is then released.
•The Krebs cycle occurs twice for every molecule of glucose.
•This is accomplished through the arrangement of the protein complexes on the inner mitochondrial matrix, which allows the electrons to pass from one reacting molecule to another. The electron transport chain is the name given to this process.
•ATP synthase is an enzyme that converts ADP and inorganic phosphate into ATP.
Conclusion
Respiration is one of the most important chemical processes that takes place in all living organisms, including plants, animals, and humans.Aerobic Respiration is the process of cellular respiration that occurs in the presence of oxygen gas in order to produce energy from food.Anaerobic respiration is a type of respiration that occurs when there is no oxygen present in the air. The energy required for this process is obtained through the breakdown of glucose in the absence of oxygen. Aerobic respiration refers to the process of using oxygen to break down glucose, amino acids, and fatty acids in order to produce ATP.