AQA Biology 4.4.2.1

Aerobic respiration

Every living cell respires, all the time. Feed a mitochondrion and follow the energy out.

Combined Science · Higher tier

Start here

Out of breath.

You run for a few minutes. You breathe harder, and you start to feel warm.

If you had to guess, is the extra oxygen used only in your lungs, or in cells all over your body?

Aerobic respiration

In every cell, all the time.

Cellular respiration is an exothermic reaction which is continuously occurring in living cells. Aerobic respiration uses oxygen and happens in the mitochondria. Send in the reactants.

Send in glucose and oxygen.

The energy transferred supplies all the energy needed for living processes. Tap each use.

Cells that need a lot of energy, such as muscle cells and sperm cells, have many mitochondria.

The equation

Written out.

Learn the word equation. Energy is transferred; it isn’t one of the products.

glucose + oxygen carbon dioxide + water

Recognise the symbols: tap each.

Aerobic respiration transfers much more energy than anaerobic respiration: in Anaerobic respiration.

Think again · making energy?

“Respiration makes energy.”

Your call

Choose

What happens to energy in respiration?

Sort

In the equation?

Place each one.

Tap a card, then tap the box it belongs in. Tap a placed card to take it back.

Command words in this lesson

Describe: Where it happens, the equation, and what the energy is for.
Explain: How respiration keeps you warm, link by link.
Suggest: Why a cell has many mitochondria.

Key fact

Aerobic respiration: glucose + oxygen gives carbon dioxide + water, in the mitochondria. It is exothermic and never stops.

Key note · AQA 4.4.2.1

Aerobic respiration

Respiration is an exothermic reaction, continuously occurring in living cells. It is not breathing.
Aerobic respiration: glucose + oxygen gives carbon dioxide + water. It happens in the mitochondria.
The energy transferred is used to build larger molecules, for movement and to keep warm.
Recognise C₆H₁₂O₆, O₂, CO₂ and H₂O. Aerobic respiration transfers much more energy than anaerobic.

Photograph this card. Tomorrow, cover it and say each line first.

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Ask MrBadmus

Not sure how respiration differs from breathing?

The mitochondrion is schematic.