AQA · GCSE · Biology
Course version: 8461 · Version from Sept 2018
Students should be able to compare the processes of aerobic and anaerobic…
Full specification wording
Aerobic and anaerobic respiration: Students should be able to compare the processes of aerobic and anaerobic respiration with regard to the need for oxygen, the differing products and the relative amounts of energy transferred.
Respiration transfers energy from glucose in cells.
Checked against the AQA 8461 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 4 of 6
- 3 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
Respiration transfers energy from glucose in cells. Aerobic respiration needs oxygen and occurs mainly in mitochondria; glucose and oxygen react to form carbon dioxide and water, transferring a relatively large amount of energy per glucose molecule. Anaerobic respiration occurs without oxygen, so it suits intense activity when oxygen supply is limited. In human muscle cells glucose is converted to lactic acid, transferring much less energy per glucose molecule. In plant and yeast cells glucose is converted to ethanol and carbon dioxide. Comparing the two processes means stating the oxygen requirement, naming the products, and judging energy transfer: aerobic releases more energy per glucose molecule than anaerobic.
For example: A sprinter relies partly on anaerobic respiration, whereas steady jogging is mainly aerobic.
What earns the marks
- Aerobic respiration requires oxygen; anaerobic respiration does not require oxygen.
- Aerobic respiration in cells uses glucose and oxygen and produces carbon dioxide and water.
- Anaerobic respiration in human muscle cells produces lactic acid from glucose.
- Anaerobic respiration in plant and yeast cells produces ethanol and carbon dioxide from glucose.
- Aerobic respiration transfers a relatively larger amount of energy per glucose molecule than anaerobic respiration.
- A valid comparison links all three factors: oxygen need, products formed and relative energy transferred.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Saying anaerobic respiration produces no energy at all.
Put it right by stating that energy is still transferred, but less per glucose molecule than in aerobic respiration.
Confusing the products of anaerobic respiration in muscle cells with those in yeast cells.
Put it right by linking muscle cells to lactic acid and yeast cells to ethanol and carbon dioxide.
Writing that aerobic respiration produces lactic acid.
Put it right by stating that lactic acid is a product of anaerobic respiration in animal muscle cells.
Exam tips
- Use a table with rows for oxygen need, products and relative energy transferred to structure a comparison answer.
- Name the cell type whenever you describe anaerobic respiration, because the products differ between muscle cells and plant or yeast cells.
- Use comparative wording such as greater or smaller when judging energy transfer, rather than saying aerobic respiration makes energy.
Try the lesson
The start of the Aerobic and anaerobic respiration: Students should be able to compare the processes of aerobic and anaerobic respiration with regard to the need for oxygen, the differing products and the relative amounts of energy transferred. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
Which gas must be present for aerobic respiration to take place in a muscle cell?
Listen
Respiration transfers energy from glucose in cells. Aerobic respiration needs oxygen and occurs mainly in mitochondria; glucose and oxygen react to form carbon dioxide and water, transferring a relatively large amount of energy per glucose molecule. Anaerobic respiration occurs without oxygen, so it suits intense activity when oxygen supply is limited. In human muscle cells glucose is converted to lactic acid, transferring much less energy per glucose molecule. In plant and yeast cells glucose is converted to ethanol and carbon dioxide. Comparing the two processes means stating the oxygen requirement, naming the products, and judging energy transfer: aerobic releases more energy per glucose molecule than anaerobic. For example, a sprinter relies partly on anaerobic respiration, whereas steady jogging is mainly aerobic. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Aerobic respiration requires oxygen; anaerobic respiration does not require oxygen. Aerobic respiration in cells uses glucose and oxygen and produces carbon dioxide and water. Anaerobic respiration in human muscle cells produces lactic acid from glucose. Anaerobic respiration in plant and yeast cells produces ethanol and carbon dioxide from glucose. A common slip: Saying anaerobic respiration produces no energy at all. Instead, stating that energy is still transferred, but less per glucose molecule than in aerobic respiration. Exam tip: Use a table with rows for oxygen need, products and relative energy transferred to structure a comparison answer.
See it
Key words
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Aerobic respiration
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Anaerobic respiration
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Products of anaerobic respiration
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See every definition
- Aerobic respiration
- Requires oxygen, uses glucose and oxygen and produces carbon dioxide and water, transferring a relatively larger amount of energy per glucose molecule.
- Anaerobic respiration
- Occurs without oxygen and transfers much less energy per glucose molecule than aerobic respiration.
- Products of anaerobic respiration
- In human muscle cells glucose is converted to lactic acid, while in plant and yeast cells glucose is converted to ethanol and carbon dioxide.
Label the diagram
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