9th Grade: Cellular Respiration 🔋

Interactive Lesson • $\text{ATP}$ Production • $\text{Three}$ $\text{Stages}$

The Cell's Power Plant 🔌

  **$\text{Cellular}$ $\text{Respiration}$** is the process that all living organisms (plants, animals, fungi, bacteria) use to convert the chemical energy stored in **$\text{glucose}$** ($\text{a}$ $\text{sugar}$) into a usable form of energy called **$\text{ATP}$** ($\text{Adenosine}$ $\text{Triphosphate}$). This process requires $\text{oxygen}$ ($\text{aerobic}$) and mainly occurs in the **$\text{Mitochondria}$** of $\text{eukaryotic}$ cells.

 
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The $\text{Cellular}$ $\text{Respiration}$ $\text{Equation}$ 🧪

This equation shows that $\text{glucose}$ and $\text{oxygen}$ are the inputs ($\text{reactants}$), and $\text{carbon}$ $\text{dioxide}$, $\text{water}$, and $\text{energy}$ ($\text{ATP}$) are the outputs ($\text{products}$).

    $$\text{C}_6\text{H}_{12}\text{O}_6 + 6\text{O}_2 \longrightarrow 6\text{CO}_2 + 6\text{H}_2\text{O} + \text{ATP (Energy)}$$

Notice how this is the exact reverse of the overall $\text{Photosynthesis}$ equation! Life on $\text{Earth}$ is a grand chemical cycle.

The $\text{Three}$ $\text{Main}$ $\text{Stages}$ of $\text{Aerobic}$ $\text{Respiration}$ ➡️

 
   

1. $\text{Glycolysis}$

   

Location: $\text{Cytoplasm}$

   

Action: $\text{Glucose}$ is broken down into two molecules of $\text{Pyruvic}$ $\text{Acid}$ ($\text{Pyruvate}$).

   

$\text{ATP}$ Yield: Net 2 $\text{ATP}$

 
 
   

2. $\text{Krebs}$ $\text{Cycle}$ ($\text{Citric}$ $\text{Acid}$ $\text{Cycle}$)

   

Location: $\text{Mitochondrial}$ $\text{Matrix}$

   

Action: $\text{Pyruvate}$ is converted and broken down, releasing $\text{CO}_2$ and high-energy electrons (carried by $\text{NADH}$ and $\text{FADH}_2$).

   

$\text{ATP}$ Yield: Net 2 $\text{ATP}$

 
 
   

3. $\text{Electron}$ $\text{Transport}$ $\text{Chain}$ ($\text{ETC}$)

   

Location: $\text{Inner}$ $\text{Mitochondrial}$ $\text{Membrane}$

   

Action: $\text{NADH}$ and $\text{FADH}_2$ drop off electrons, which power a chain reaction that produces large amounts of $\text{ATP}$ using $\text{oxygen}$.

   

$\text{ATP}$ Yield: $\approx$ 32-34 $\text{ATP}$

 

Total $\text{ATP}$ Production (Aerobic): $\approx$ 36-38 $\text{ATP}$ per molecule of $\text{glucose}$.

Practice Problems ($\text{Concept}$ $\text{Check}$)

Click the correct term to complete the statement.

 
   
1) The molecule that provides usable energy to the cell.
   
               
   
 
 
   
2) The main organelle where $\text{ATP}$ is produced.
   
               
   
 
 
   
3) The final electron acceptor in the $\text{ETC}$.
   
               
   
 
 
   
4) The process of splitting $\text{glucose}$ into $\text{pyruvate}$.
   
               
   
 

⚡ $\text{Cellular}$ $\text{Respiration}$ $\text{Stage}$ $\text{Match}$ $\text{Up}$!

Match the key event to the correct stage of $\text{cellular}$ $\text{respiration}$ (click the correct tile).

 
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Where does $\text{O}_2$ act as the final electron acceptor?
 
     
 
 

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