Ecosystems Flashcards
What is respiration?
The process providing energy for cells by breaking down glucose
What is glucose?
Glucose is a carbohydrate
- type of sugar
- humans ingest starches which are broken down into glucose
What cells does respiration occur in?
Every cell - plants and animals
What is aerobic respiration?
A type of respiration so it breaks down glucose to release energy
What are some characteristics of aerobic respiration? ( 4 )
- requires oxygen
- waste products water and carbon dioxide
- releases the largest amount of energy
- occurs in the mitochondria
What is the equation for aerobic respiration?
Glucose + water -> Water + carbon dioxide
What are some characteristics of anaerobic respiration? (4)
- Used when there isn’t enough oxygen
- waste products are lactic acid
- releases less energy than aerobic respiration
- occurs in the cytoplasm
What is lactic acid - when does it occur?
It is the cause of muscle cramps and stitches after exercise
Define oxygen debt
The amount of oxygen needed to remove lactic acid, payed off by breathing faster to get more oxygen after exercise
What is the equation for anaerobic respiration?
Glucose -> Lactic acid
What is the equation for anaerobic respiration in plants?
Glucose -> Carbon dioxide + ethanol
What can the waste products of anaerobic respiration in plants (Co2 and ethanol) be used for?
Ethanol can be used to make beers and wines
Carbon dioxide is used to make bread rise
What is photosynthesis?
Process of using sunlight, water and carbon dioxide to produce glucose
What are some characteristics of photosynthesis? (2)
- oxygen is the waste product
- occurs in the chloroplast of leaf cells
What is chlorophyll and what does it do?
Chlorophyll is the pigment that absorbs sunlight to allow photosynthesis to happen
