Biology
Respiration
Cellular, aerobic and anaerobic respiration and their word equations.
6 min read
Cellular respiration releases energy from glucose in every living cell. Aerobic respiration uses oxygen and releases the most energy:
glucose + oxygen → carbon dioxide + water (+ energy).
Anaerobic respiration happens without oxygen, releasing less energy. In animal cells:
glucose → lactic acid (+ energy).
Exam tip
Don't confuse respiration with breathing; respiration is the chemical release of energy inside cells, happening in the mitochondria.
- Equating respiration with breathing/ventilation.
- Forgetting aerobic respiration releases far more energy than anaerobic.