Question

What is the chemical formula for cellular respiration?

Answer 1

Aerobic cellular respiration is process of breakdown of glucose in presence of oxygen to release energy. It takes place in cytoplasm(glycolysis) and in mitochondria (Krebs cycle). The energy produced through aerobic respiration is more (one molecule of glucose breakdown to give 38 ATP) and most of the stages of respiration that release energy happen in the mitochondria.

Glucose+ Oxygen ------- carbondioxide+ water + Energy(ATP)

C6H12O6 + 6O2 -------- 6CO2 + 6H2O + Energy (ATP)

All living things need energy for chemical reactions to build up large molecules like proteins, for building new cells, for muscular movement and also for keeping a constant body temperature. The majority of the energy produced in our body is by the aerobic oxidation of food that we take. The food get digested to form glucose which is taken to the cell by blood where they combine with oxygen delivered by blood, taken in through breathing to release carbondioxide, Water and energy in form of ATP.

The cells also undergo anaerobic respiration, if our blood is unable to supply enough oxygen, in case of tedious exercise. This mainly takes place in the cytoplasm of muscle cells. Glucose gets breakdown anaerobically to release energy and a byproduct lactic acid. Here less energy is released when compaired to aerobic respiration and the byproduct lactic acid can produce burning sensation to muscles, which means that anaerobic respiration is not sustainable for long periods. Lactic acid produced will be oxidized to CO2 and water in liver.

Anaerobic cellular respiration equation,

Glucose -------Lactic acid + Energy(ATP)

C6H12O6 -------- 2C6H6O3 + Energy(ATP)