Respiration

Aerobic respiration

Aerobic respiration is defined as chemical reactions in cells that use oxygen to

break down nutrient molecules to release energy.

The energy released from respiration are used for various things in the body:

● Muscle contraction
● Protein synthesis
● Cell division
● Active transport
● Growth
● Passage of nerve impulses
● Maintenance of constant body temperature

Investigation: Oxygen uptake by respiring organisms

A simple respirometer is used. An organism is placed in the boiling tube on top of
the wire gauze. A capillary tube connected to the boiling tube is measured against
a ruler, and a colored dye is introduced into it.

With the starting point of the dye measured, the dye will move towards the boiling
tube as the organism uses up the oxygen in the air.

The carbon dioxide produced by the organism is eliminated/absorbed by the soda lime, and therefore
does will affect the dye position.

We can measure the rate of respiration by calculating the distance traveled by the
dye and dividing it by the time it took.

Investigation: The effect on temperature on rate of respiration of

germinating seeds
The experimental set up for this experiment is virtually the same before.

Germinating seeds are placed in a boiling tube on a wire gauze. Soda lime is
placed at the bottom (to absorb CO2) and the boiling tube is placed in a water
bath of a known temperature (i.e. 30 degrees)

A capillary tube is connected to the boiling tube, with colored dye introduced. The
initial position of the dye is measured against a ruler and as the seeds respire, the
dye will move towards the boiling tube.

The rate of respiration for that particular temperature (i.e. 30 degrees) is

calculated:

The experiment can be repeated multiple times to calculate and compare the rate
of respiration at different temperatures i.e. 40°C , 50°C, etc.
Anaerobic respiration

Anaerobic respiration is defined as chemical reactions in cells that break down

nutrient molecules to release energy without oxygen.

Anaerobic respiration releases less energy per glucose than aerobic respiration,
so it is less efficient.

The equation for anaerobic respiration is different between our muscles and
yeast:

● In muscles:

● In yeast

Lactic acid

Oxygen debt

During vigorous exercise muscles may not be receiving oxygen quick enough for
aerobic respiration. In such instances, anaerobic respiration occurs in order to
supply the muscles with energy despite the lack of oxygen.

As we see in the equation above, anaerobic respiration in muscles produces lactic

acid, which is a toxic waste product.
Oxygen is required to remove lactic acid once the exercise stops, and therefore
we call this ‘oxygen debt’ i.e. the body ‘borrowed’ oxygen during anaerobic
respiration, and must pay it back to remove the lactic acid.

Lactic acid removal

Lactic acid is aerobically respired in the liver.

Even after exercise stops, the heart rate remains quick and the breathing rate
remains deep.

● Fast heart rate allows lactic acid to be transported quickly from the
muscles to the liver
● Deep breathing rate allows sufficient supply of oxygen to aerobically
respire/remove the lactic acid