Cellular respiration

Question 1

What is cellular respiration?

Answer 1

Cellular respiration is the process by which living cells convert chemical energy, stored in glucose, into a form they can use, namely ATP (adenosine triphosphate).

Question 2

What is the overall equation for cellular respiration?

Answer 2

The overall equation for cellular respiration is: C6H12O6 + 6O2 → 6H2O + 6CO2 + 38 ATP.

Question 3

What are the four stages of cellular respiration?

Answer 3

1. Glycolysis, 2. Pyruvate oxidation, 3. Citric Acid Cycle, and 4. Electron Transport Chain.

Question 4

What is glycolysis?

Answer 4

Glycolysis is the process of breaking down glucose into pyruvate, producing energy in the form of ATP and NADH.

Question 5

Where does glycolysis occur?

Answer 5

Glycolysis occurs in the cytoplasm of all cells.

Question 6

What are the products of glycolysis?

Answer 6

Glycolysis produces 2 molecules of pyruvate, 2 ATP (energy), and 2 NADH molecules.

Question 7

How many ATP molecules are gained during glycolysis?

Answer 7

While 2 ATP molecules are required to start the process, glycolysis produces a net gain of 2 ATP molecules.

Question 8

What happens during pyruvate oxidation?

Answer 8

During pyruvate oxidation, pyruvate is transported into the mitochondrion from the cytosol via a transporter protein. Coenzyme A is then added to the molecule to create Acetyl CoA, which can enter the next step of cellular respiration.

Question 9

Where does pyruvate oxidation occur?

Answer 9

Pyruvate oxidation occurs in the mitochondrial matrix.

Question 10

What is the role of coenzyme A in pyruvate oxidation?

Answer 10

Coenzyme A is added to pyruvate to form Acetyl CoA, which serves as the molecule that can be introduced into the next step of cellular respiration.

Question 11

Where does the Citric Acid Cycle (CAC), also known as the Krebs Cycle, occur?

Answer 11

The Citric Acid Cycle (CAC) occurs in the matrix of the mitochondrion.

Question 12

What is the requirement for the Citric Acid Cycle (CAC) to occur?

Answer 12

The Citric Acid Cycle (CAC) requires the presence of oxygen in order to occur. Therefore, it is part of aerobic respiration.

Question 13

How many rotations of the Citric Acid Cycle (CAC) occur for every glucose molecule?

Answer 13

Every glucose molecule undergoes two rotations of the Citric Acid Cycle (CAC).

Question 14

Where does the Electron Transport Chain (ETC) occur?

Answer 14

The Electron Transport Chain (ETC) occurs in the inner mitochondrial membrane.

Question 15

What is the requirement for the Electron Transport Chain (ETC) to occur?

Answer 15

The Electron Transport Chain (ETC) requires the presence of oxygen in order to occur, making it part of aerobic respiration.

Question 16

What are NADH and FADH2 in the context of the Electron Transport Chain (ETC)?

Answer 16

NADH and FADH2 are carrier molecules (coenzymes) that are used to generate ATP in the Electron Transport Chain (ETC).

Question 17

How many ATP molecules are generated from the NADH and FADH2 molecules created from a single glucose molecule?

Answer 17

A total of 34 ATP molecules are generated from the NADH and FADH2 molecules created from a single glucose molecule. This includes 2 NADH from glycolysis, 2 NADH from pyruvate oxidation, 6 NADH from the Citric Acid Cycle (CAC), and 2 FADH2 from the CAC.

Question 18

What is the Electron Transport Chain (ETC)?

Answer 18

The Electron Transport Chain (ETC) is a series of protein complexes located in the inner mitochondrial membrane that transfers electrons from NADH and FADH2 to oxygen, producing ATP.

Question 19

What is the role of NADH and FADH2 in the Electron Transport Chain (ETC)?

Answer 19

NADH and FADH2 are carrier molecules (coenzymes) that donate electrons to the Electron Transport Chain (ETC), which are then used to generate ATP.