Name: Nina Montiel Date: 10/25/22

Student Exploration: Cell Energy Cycle

Directions: Follow the instructions to go through the simulation. Respond to the questions and
prompts in the orange boxes.

Vocabulary: aerobic, anaerobic, ATP, cellular respiration, chemical energy, chlorophyll, chloroplast, cytoplasm,
glucose, glycolysis, mitochondria, photosynthesis, radiant energy

Prior Knowledge Questions (Do these BEFORE using the Gizmo.)

1. What does a plant need to survive and grow? Photosynthesis

2. What does an animal need to survive and grow? O2 , food, H20

3. How do animals and plants depend on each other? Plants are able to produce their own food and
animals have to look for their food. Plants
help improve the oxygen for animals, they
inhale Co2 and exhale O2 for organisms.

Gizmo Warm-up
The Cell Energy Cycle Gizmo™ illustrates two processes that are
essential to life: photosynthesis and cellular respiration.

Although both of these processes involve a series of complex steps,

the inputs and outputs of each process are four relatively simple
molecules.

1. What is the chemical formula of oxygen?

O2

2. Glucose is a simple sugar. What is the chemical formula of glucose?

C6 H12 O6

3. What is the chemical formula of carbon dioxide?

CO2

4. What is the chemical formula of water?

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 H20

Get the Gizmo ready:

Activity A:
● If necessary, click Reset.
Photosynthesis ● Check that the PHOTOSYNTHESIS tab is selected. Check that
Description is turned on.

Introduction: Photosynthesis occurs in the chloroplast, an organelle found in plant and algae cells. Within
the chloroplast, a green pigment called chlorophyll converts the radiant energy of sunlight into chemical
energy that the plant can use.

Question: What are the inputs and outputs of photosynthesis?

1. Predict: Of the molecules shown on the MOLECULES pane, which do you think are inputs (ingredients) in
photosynthesis? Which do you think are outputs?

Inputs: H20, cO2 Outputs: C6 H12 O6

2. Explore: Drag each molecule from the MOLECULES pane to the chloroplast on the PHOTOSYNTHESIS
pane. If a molecule is an input, it will stay in the chloroplast.

Which molecules are inputs in photosynthesis? H20, CO2

3. Observe: Click Add light and look at the Output. What are the outputs of photosynthesis?

C6 H12 O6 O2

4. Summarize: Although photosynthesis is a complex process involving many reactions, it can be summarized
by a simplified formula that shows inputs on the left and outputs on the right. Based on your observations,
write a simplified formula for photosynthesis:

CO2 + H20 🡪 C6 H12 O6 + O2

Turn on Show input/output formula to check. Were you correct? yes

5. Challenge: To balance the inputs and outputs of photosynthesis, there should be the same number of
carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen atoms on each side of the arrow.

A. Is the formula balanced as written? Why or why not?

The formula is balanced because the formula has an equal number of Carbon,
Oxygen, and Hydrogen atoms.

B. Now balance the input/output formula by adding coefficients to each molecule. Write the balanced
formula below, and then check your work by clicking Balance.
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 6 H2O + 6 CO2 🡪 6 O2 + C6 H12
O6[-

Activity B: Get the Gizmo ready:

Cellular ● Click Reset.
respiration ● Select the RESPIRATION tab.

Introduction: Cellular respiration occurs in the cytoplasm of the cell and in mitochondria, organelles found
in all complex cells. (Bacteria and other simple organisms do not contain mitochondria.) The Gizmo shows a
mitochondrion surrounded by yellow cytoplasm.

Question: What are the inputs and outputs of cellular respiration?

1. Predict: Of the molecules shown on the MOLECULES pane, which do you think are inputs (ingredients) in
cellular respiration? Which do you think are outputs?
2.
Inputs: C6H12O6, H20 Outputs: Co2

3. Explore: Drag each molecule from the MOLECULES pane to the RESPIRATION pane.

Which molecules are inputs in cellular respiration? Glucose, Oxygen

4. Observe: Click Next. What happens in the cytoplasm?

The glucose molecules turns into two pyruvate which produces energy.

This process is called glycolysis. Two pyruvate (C3H3O3–) molecules are produced in glycolysis. The
released energy is used to form a net of two ATP (adenosine triphosphate) molecules. Energy is later
released when ATP molecules are broken down.

5. Observe: Click Next. What happens now?

The pyruvate molecules enter the mitochondria.

6. Observe: Click Next. What happens in the mitochondrion?

Water, Carbon Dioxide and energy are released

Energy from the mitochondrion is also stored in the form of ATP. A net of 30 ATP molecules are produced
for every two molecules of pyruvate.

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7. Analyze: Cellular respiration involves two phases. The anaerobic phase does not involve oxygen, while the
aerobic phase does. Where does each phase take place?

Anaerobic:
Cytoplasm

Aerobic:
Mitochondria
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8. Summarize: Based on what you have seen, write a simplified formula for cellular respiration.

C6 H12 + O2 🡪 H20 + CO2+ATP

Turn on Show input/output formula to check. Were you correct? YES

6. Challenge: To balance the inputs and outputs of cellular respiration, there should be the same number of
carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen atoms on each side of the arrow.

A. Is the formula balanced as written? Why or why not?

The formula is not balanced because they have an uneven amount of

Hydrogen and Carbon Dioxide.

B. Now balance the input/output formula by adding coefficients to each molecule. Write the balanced
formula below, and then check your work by clicking Balance.

C6 H12 + 6O2 🡪 6H20 + ATP

O2

9. Compare: The aerobic phase of cellular respiration in the mitochondrion produces a net of about 28 to 30
ATP molecules. How does this compare to the energy released in glycolysis?

This compare to energy released in glycolysis because a small amount of ATP is

released.

(Note: Some textbooks state that up to 36 ATP molecules are produced in this phase of cellular respiration.
In reality, some energy is lost in the process due to the cost of transporting molecules and imperfect
membranes.)

10. Extend your thinking: When you think of the word “respiration,” you might think about the process of
breathing, which is actually called ventilation. (The respiratory system consists of the windpipe, lungs, etc.)

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How is breathing related to cellular respiration? (Hint: Think about both the inputs and the outputs of
cellular respiration.)

Breathing is related to cellular respiration because when a human inhales we are

producing oxygen and in the formula of cellular respiration, Oxygen is one of the inputs.
When a human exhales they release CO2 and Hydrogen.

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