Aerobic respiration — Science definition

Energy-transfer metabolism using oxygen as the final electron acceptor.

Where it is taught

In use

In aerobic respiration, organic molecules are oxidized and oxygen is reduced, with energy transferred to ATP production and heat.

Cellular Respiration

Questions using aerobic respiration

Problem 1

Most of a cell's ATP from aerobic respiration is produced in the
  1. electron transport chain on the inner mitochondrial membrane
  2. cytoplasm during glycolysis
  3. nucleus
  4. ribosomes
Answer and explanation

electron transport chain on the inner mitochondrial membrane

Oxidative phosphorylation coupled to electron transport makes most of the ATP in this eukaryotic model.

Problem 2

Does anaerobic metabolism always produce the same amount of ATP as aerobic respiration?
Hints

State what the supplied observations or conditions establish, and separate that from any assumption.

Answer and explanation

No. Yields and pathways differ; simple fermentation typically yields much less ATP per glucose than aerobic respiration.

Problem 3

In aerobic respiration, oxygen's role is to
  1. break glucose apart directly
  2. accept electrons at the end of the electron transport chain
  3. produce carbon dioxide
  4. supply the carbon for ATP
Answer and explanation

accept electrons at the end of the electron transport chain

Oxygen is the final electron acceptor, combining with electrons and hydrogen ions to form water, which keeps the chain running.

Problem 4

Using a stated model yield of 30 ATP per glucose for aerobic respiration and the net 2 ATP from glycolysis alone, how many times more ATP does the aerobic route recover?
Answer and explanation

15

30 / 2 = 15 times as much at this stated yield. Quote the model value used, because estimates vary with transport and coupling and no single count is universal.

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