Cellular respiration is the process by which organisms convert the biochemical energy of nutrients into ATP. This process breaks down glucose into six carbon dioxide molecules and twelve water molecules. The overall chemical equation for aerobic respiration is
C6H12O6 + 6O2 + 6H2O → 12H2O + 6CO2 + 36/38ATP The cellular respiration is a catabolic process which breaks down large molecules into small molecules. The energy released during cellular respiration is used in the synthesis of ATP. Various sugars, amino acids, and fatty acids can be used as the substrate for cellular respiration. 1.
What is Cellular Respiration Key Terms: Aerobic Respiration, Anaerobic Respiration, ATP, Cellular Respiration, Glucose Cellular respiration is a set of chemical reactions involved in the breakdown of nutrients into carbon dioxide and water, producing ATP. ATP is the main energy currency of the cell. Cellular respiration occurs within almost all organisms on the earth. Nutrients such as carbohydrates, proteins, and fatty acids are converted into glucose and used in the cellular respiration. There are two types of cellular respiration as aerobic respiration and anaerobic respiration. Final electron acceptor of aerobic respiration is molecular oxygen which is an inorganic compound in anaerobic respiration. The overall process of cellular respiration is shown in figure 1. Figure 1: Cellular Respiration What is the Chemical Equation for Cellular RespirationThe chemical equations for all types of cellular respiration are described below. Aerobic RespirationAerobic respiration is the most efficient type of cellular respiration, which occurs in the presence of oxygen. The three steps of aerobic respiration are glycolysis, Krebs cycle, and electron transport chain. 1. GlycolysisGlycolysis is the first step of aerobic respiration, which occurs in the cytoplasm. Two pyruvate molecules are produced from one glucose molecule during glycolysis. The chemical equation for glycolysis is, Glucose + 2NAD+ 2Pi + 2ADP → 2Pyruvate + 2NADH + 2ATP + 2H+ + 2H2O + Heat These pyruvic acid molecules react with coenzyme-A to form acetyl-CoA. Pyruvate + 2NAD+ + CoA → Acetyl CoA + NADH + CO2 + H+ 2. Krebs CycleAcetyl CoA is completely broken down into carbon dioxide during Krebs cycle. Acetyl CoA + 3NAD+ Q + GDP + Pi + 2H2O → CoA-SH + 3NADH + 3H+ +QH2 + GTP + 2CO2 3. Electron Transport ChainCoenzymes made by the above two processes are reduced back by oxidative phosphorylation. The released energy is stored in ATP. The overall chemical equation for aerobic respiration is shown below. C6H12O6 + 6O2 + 6H2O → 12H2O + 6CO2 + 36/38ATP Anaerobic RespirationAnaerobic respiration is a type of cellular respiration that occurs in the absence of oxygen. The main type of anaerobic respiration is fermentation. Two types of fermentation can be identified: ethanol fermentation and lactic acid fermentation. The first steps of both fermentation methods are the glycolysis. The balanced chemical equations for both ethanol fermentation and lactic acid fermentation are shown below. Ethanol FermentationC6H12O6 → 2C2H5OH + 2CO2 + 2ATP Lactic Acid FermentationC6H12O6 → 2C3H6O3 + 2ATP ConclusionDuring cellular respiration, one glucose molecule is broken down into six carbon dioxide molecules and twelve water molecules. The released energy is used in the production of ATP. Reference:1. “Steps of Cellular Respiration.” Khan Academy, Available here. Image Courtesy:1. “CellRespiration” By RegisFrey – Own work (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia About the Author: LaknaLakna, a graduate in Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, is a Molecular Biologist and has a broad and keen interest in the discovery of nature related things You May Also Like TheseWhat is the chemical reaction for cellular respiration quizlet?What is the chemical equation for cellular respiration? Cellular respiration is represented by the chemical formula C6H12 + 6O2 = 6CO2 + 6H2O + energy (as ATP).
What is the simple reaction of cellular respiration?During cellular respiration, a glucose molecule is gradually broken down into carbon dioxide and water. Along the way, some ATP is produced directly in the reactions that transform glucose. Much more ATP, however, is produced later in a process called oxidative phosphorylation.
What type of chemical reaction is respiration?Respiration involves the burning of sugar with oxygen, within the cells of every living organism to produce the energy needed for all the reactions of life along with water and carbon dioxide as waste products. Hence, we can say that respiration is an exothermic reaction.
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