GCSE Biology Revision — Aerobic & Anaerobic Respiration
Revise Aerobic & Anaerobic Respiration for GCSE Biology with a topic explanation, worked example and common mistakes. Check the board notes for specification differences.
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What is Aerobic & Anaerobic Respiration?
Aerobic respiration uses oxygen to release a large amount of energy from glucose, producing carbon dioxide and water as waste products. Anaerobic respiration occurs when there is not enough oxygen, releasing a much smaller amount of energy and producing lactic acid in animals, or ethanol and carbon dioxide in plants and yeast.
Board notes: Covered by all major boards (AQA, Edexcel, OCR). The differences in reactants, products, and energy yield are key points to learn.
Step-by-step explanationWorked examples
Worked example
During a 100m sprint, an athlete's muscles are working so hard that the blood cannot supply oxygen fast enough for aerobic respiration alone. The muscle cells switch to anaerobic respiration to provide the extra energy needed. This results in a build-up of lactic acid, causing muscle cramps and fatigue.
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Common mistakes
- 1Thinking anaerobic respiration produces a lot of energy. It is much less efficient than aerobic respiration, yielding only about 1/19th of the energy per glucose molecule.
- 2Confusing the products of anaerobic respiration in animals and yeast. Animals produce lactic acid, which causes muscle fatigue. Yeast produces ethanol and carbon dioxide, a process used in brewing and baking.
- 3Forgetting the word equations. Aerobic: Glucose + Oxygen -> Carbon Dioxide + Water. Anaerobic (animals): Glucose -> Lactic Acid. Anaerobic (yeast): Glucose -> Ethanol + Carbon Dioxide.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the main difference between aerobic and anaerobic respiration?
The main difference is the presence of oxygen. Aerobic respiration requires oxygen and releases a lot of energy, while anaerobic respiration does not require oxygen and releases much less energy.
Why do plants and yeast carry out anaerobic respiration?
Yeast carries out anaerobic respiration (fermentation) in the absence of oxygen to produce ethanol and CO2, which is useful in making bread and alcoholic drinks. Plants may respire anaerobically in waterlogged roots where oxygen is scarce.