Cellular Respiration

Question 1

What types of reactions are involved with the cellular respiration process? Why are they important?

Answer 1

Oxidation Reactions: loss of an electron from a molecule

Reduction Reactions: adding of an electron by a molecule.

They’re important because they transfer energy in the form of electrons moving between molecules. (energy stored in the movement of electrons)

Question 2

What is Cellular Respiration? What are the components? What’s the difference between them?

Answer 2

Cellular Respiration: a collection of reactions where energy from macromolecules is released in order to build energy molecules.

• Anaerobic reactions: No Oxygen present, fewer ATP produced
• Aerobic reactions: Oxygen is present, many more ATP produced

Question 3

Why is O2 an important molecule?

Answer 3

Oxygen readily accepts electrons, which allows a safety net for complex reactions that use electrons to ultimately make ATP.

Question 4

What are the fuels used to power the Cellular Respiration process?

Answer 4

Carbohydrates
Fats
Proteins

There are all 3 major macromolecules that can be used to produce energy in cells, when broken they have exergonic reactions.

Question 5

Why are carbohydrates and fats such high-quality fuel? Why do enzymes play an important role when dealing with carbs and fats?

Answer 5

Carbohydrates and Fats are rich in C-H bonds, which makes them a great source of fuel for cells to build energy.

At high enough temps, carb and fat compounds readily combust (burn). In some organisms their body temp is not high enough, so enzymes need to lower activation energy EA for reactions.

Question 6

What is the chemical formula for Cellular Respiration?

Answer 6

C6 H12 O6 + 6O2 => 6CO2 + 6H2O + Energy

Question 7

Why is it important for organisms to be able to control the released energy during cellular respiration?

Answer 7

The energy in electron transfer has to be harnessed and not lost to Entropy. It does the cell no good if energy is released and can’t be harnessed.

Question 8

What is NAD+ ? What is it’s function?

Answer 8

A molecule that is used in the cell to harness the movement of electrons and the energy contained within that movement.

NAD+ temporarily holds electrons so that their movement can be used to make ATP

Question 9

What’s the Electron Transport Chain? How does it work?

Answer 9

Once NAD+ has an electron it becomes NADH and then transports the electron throughout this process.

Electron Transport Chain: series of temporary transfers of electrons that produce ATP. Eventually, electron is transferred to 02 to make H20.

Question 10

What are the stages of Cellular Respiration?

Answer 10

Glycolysis: splitting of sugar

Citric Acid Cycle

Oxidative Phosphorylation

Question 11

What is Substrate Level Phosphorylation? How does this work?

Answer 11

The process of Glycolysis and the Citric Acid Cycle build ATP molecules through this process.

During this process enzymes bind the substrate ADP + a molecule that contains a free phosphate to make ATP.

Question 12

Explain each stage of Cellular Respiration.

Answer 12

Glycolysis: original method of energy production. The start of the process.
- It takes 2 ATP to start and makes 4 ATP total (net gain of 2)

Citric Acid Cycle: production of electrons storage compounds. (breaking bonds & capturing energy)
- Doesn’t require ATP to start, produce NADH & FADH2. (Net gain 2 ATP)

Oxidative Phosphorylation=> making ATP. doesn’t require energy to start.
- Electrons in NADH and FADH2 power active transport protons (sets up a concentrated gradient). Protons flow down their concentrated gradient and power ATP Synthase.
(Net gain 28 ATP)

Question 13

T/F 1 Glucose molecule = 40 ATP

Answer 13

False
1 Glucose molecule = 32 ATP