Glucose is oxidized with oxygen, releasing energy stored as ATP.
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Cellular respiration is the set of pathways by which cells oxidise glucose and other fuels to extract energy as ATP. The overall reaction is C6H12O6 + 6O2 gives 6CO2 + 6H2O, releasing about 2870 kJ per mole of glucose. It consists of glycolysis in the cytosol, pyruvate oxidation and the Krebs cycle in the mitochondrial matrix, and oxidative phosphorylation on the inner mitochondrial membrane. Under aerobic conditions a single glucose yields about 30 to 32 ATP. Because the energy is released in many small steps rather than all at once, a large fraction is captured in ATP instead of being lost as heat.
Key ideas: Overall C6H12O6 plus 6O2 gives 6CO2 plus 6H2O, delta G about minus 2870 kJ per mole, with about 30 to 32 ATP captured, roughly 34 percent efficiency. Stages: glycolysis (cytosol), pyruvate oxidation and Krebs cycle (matrix), electron transport (inner membrane). Respiratory quotient CO2 over O2 is 1.0 for carbohydrate and about 0.7 for fat.
Common mistakes and connections: Students say respiration is breathing; here it is the cellular chemistry. The carbon in CO2 comes from glucose, while the oxygen consumed ends up in water. The rest of the energy is released as heat, which keeps body temperature. Links to photosynthesis and to fermentation as the anaerobic alternative.
Oxidising glucose releases about 2870 kJ per mole, and around 40 percent of it is captured in ATP, the rest leaving as heat. The interactive lesson shows this as a live animation or chart.
Oxidising one mole of glucose releases about 2870 kJ, of which roughly 40 percent is captured in ATP.
Glucose is oxidized with oxygen, releasing energy stored as ATP.
Cellular Respiration is a intermediate topic in Biochemistry, Environment & Industry. It builds on the vocabulary of beginner topics in this area.
Study these earlier topics in Biochemistry, Environment & Industry first: Photosynthesis, Light Reactions, Calvin Cycle.
The next topics in Biochemistry, Environment & Industry are Fermentation and Digestion Chemistry.
Yes. The interactive lesson includes a self-check question on Cellular Respiration, and the Biochemistry, Environment & Industry quiz draws on every topic in this area.
Cellular Respiration is topic 39 of 127 in Biochemistry, Environment & Industry.
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