Explain briefly the process of respiration.

Respiration is a process in which glucose is broken down with the help of oxygen and energy is released along with the production of carbon dioxide and water.

There are two types of respiration i) aerobic respiration ii) anaerobic respiration.

Aerobic respiration- the process of respiration that takes place in the presence of oxygen.

Example- glucose(a 6-carbon molecule) breaks into pyruvate(a 3-carbon molecule)  and in the mitochondria pyruvate is broken down into 3 molecules of carbon dioxide and water with the release of energy.

Glucose --> pyruvate + energy à carbon dioxide + water + energy.

Anaerobic respiration- the process of respiration that takes place in the absence of oxygen.

Example-

• In yeast cells, glucose (a 6-carbon molecule) breaks into pyruvate (a 3-carbon molecule) and pyruvate is then converted to ethanol(a 2-carbon molecule) and carbon dioxide.

Glucose --> pyruvate + energy --> ethanol + carbon dioxide + energy.

• If there is a lack of oxygen in our muscle cells, pyruvate breaks in a different pathway. Glucose (a 6-carbon molecule) breaks into pyruvate (a 3-carbon molecule) and pyruvate is then converted to lactic acid (a 3-carbon molecule) along with the release of energy.

Glucose -->pyruvate + energy -->  lactic acid + energy.