Respiration

IGCSE
Respiration
● Respiration is a chemical process that involves the breakdown of nutrient
molecules (specifically glucose) in order to release the energy stored within
the bonds of these molecules
○ Respiration is enzyme-controlled
● Respiration can take place with oxygen (aerobically) or without oxygen
(anaerobically).
○ Much less energy is released for each glucose molecule broken down
anaerobically compared to the energy released when it is broken down
aerobically
● Respiration occurs in all living cells; most of the chemical reactions in aerobic
respiration take place in the mitochondria
● Humans need the energy released during respiration carry out many
processes
○ Muscle contraction
○ Protein synthesis
○ Cell division (to make new cells)
○ Growth
○ Active transport across cell membranes
○ Generation of nerve impulses
○ Maintaining a constant internal body temperature
Exam Tip
Avoid the common misconception that respiration is breathing! Respiration is a
series of chemical reactions that release energy from glucose inside cells. Be
careful that you always state that energy is released, it is NEVER made, produce, or
created.

The respiration reactions are all controlled by enzymes. You need to be able to state
this in an exam!
The Effect of Temperature on Respiration
The Effect of Temperature on the Respiration of Yeast Cells

● There are several different experimental methods that can be used to investigate the rate of
respiration in organisms
● Some methods, such as the experiment described below, involve the use of a coloured
indicator
● An indicator can be used to investigate the effect of temperature on the rate of aerobic
respiration in yeast
● Methylene blue dye is a suitable indicator
● This dye can be added to a suspension of living yeast cells because it doesn't damage cells
● Yeast can respire both aerobically and anaerobically, though in this experiment it is their rate
of aerobic respiration that is being investigated
● The time taken for the methylene blue to discolour (lose its colour) is a measure of the rate
of respiration of the yeast cells in the suspension
○ The faster the dye changes from blue to colourless, the faster the rate of respiration
Apparatus

● Yeast suspension
● Glucose solution
● Test tubes
● Stopwatch
● Methylene blue
● Temperature-controlled water bath(s)
● The independent variable is the variable that is changed on purpose
○ Here the investigation studies the effect of temperature on respiration rate in
yeast, so the independent variable is temperature
○ Different temperatures are achieved using water baths
● The dependent variable is the variable that is measured, i.e. the variable that depends
on the independent variable for its outcome
○ In an investigation into the effect of temperature on the rate of respiration in yeast,
the rate of respiration is the dependent variable
○ The rate is measured here by recording the time taken for methylene blue dye to
change from blue to colourless
● It is important when investigating the effect of one variable on another to ensure that any
other variables that might influence the dependent variable are being controlled, e.g.
○ Volume/concentration of dye added: if there are more dye molecules present then the
time taken for the colour change to occur may be longer
○ Volume/concentration of yeast suspension: if more yeast cells are present then more
respiration will be occurring and the dye will change colour more quickly
○ Concentration of glucose: if there is limited glucose in one tube then the respiration of
those yeast cells will be limited
○ pH: pH can influence enzyme activity, and enzymes are involved in the reactions of
respiration, so pH can therefore influence the rate of respiration
■ A buffer solution can be used to control the pH level to ensure that no enzymes are
denatured
Results
● A graph should be plotted that shows 'temperature' (x-axis) against 'time for colour change'
(y-axis)
○ It is also possible to convert 'time for colour change' into a unit of reaction rate; this has
been done in the graph shown below
● As the temperature increases up to 40 °C, the rate of respiration increases so the time taken
for the solution to become colourless reduces
○ Raising the temperature of a solution gives the molecules in the solution more kinetic
energy, so they move around more and the enzymes and substrates involved in
respiration collide with each other more frequently
● As temperature increases above 40 °C, the rate of respiration decreases so the time taken
for the solution to become colourless increases
○ Increasing the temperature above a certain point causes the enzymes involved in
respiration to denature; the shape of their active site changes and they can no longer
form enzyme-substrate complexes
Respiration is a Chemical Reaction
● Aerobic respiration requires oxygen and is defined as the chemical reactions in cells that use
oxygen to break down nutrient molecules to release energy
● It is the complete breakdown of glucose to release a relatively large amount of energy for use in cell
processes
● It produces carbon dioxide and water as well as releasing useful cellular energy
Anaerobic Respiration - Respiration Without Oxygen
● Anaerobic respiration does not require oxygen and is defined as the chemical
reactions in cells that break down nutrient molecules to release energy
without using oxygen
● It is the incomplete breakdown of glucose and releases a relatively small
amount of energy (compared to aerobic respiration) for use in cell processes
● It produces different breakdown products depending on the type of organism
it is taking place in
● You need to know the equations for anaerobic respiration in humans
(animals) and the microorganism yeast
Anaerobic Respiration in Animals
● Anaerobic respiration mainly takes place in muscle cells during vigorous exercise
● When we exercise vigorously, our muscles have a higher demand for energy than
when we are resting or exercising normally. Our bodies can only deliver so much
oxygen to our muscle cells for aerobic respiration
● In this instance, as much glucose as possible is broken down with oxygen, and
some glucose is broken down without it, producing lactic acid instead
● There is still energy stored within the bonds of lactic acid molecules that the cell
could use; for this reason, less energy is released when glucose is broken down
anaerobically
Anaerobic Respiration in Yeast
● We take advantage of the products of anaerobic respiration in yeast by
using it in bread making, where
○ The carbon dioxide produced causes dough to rise
● And in brewing, where
○ The ethanol produced gives the beer its alcoholic nature
○ The carbon dioxide produced gives beer its fizz
Anaerobic Respiration & Oxygen Debt: Extended
● Lactic acid builds up in muscle cells and lowers the pH of the cells (making them more acidic)
● This could denature the enzymes in cells so it needs to be removed
● Cells excrete lactic acid into the blood. When blood passes through the liver, lactic acid is taken
up into liver cells where it is oxidised, producing carbon dioxide and water (Lactic acid reacts with
oxygen - this is actually aerobic respiration with lactic acid as the nutrient molecule instead of
glucose)
● So the waste products of lactic acid oxidation are carbon dioxide and water
● This is the reason we continue to breath heavily and our heart rate remains high even after
finishing exercise - we need to transport the lactic acid from our muscles to the liver, and continue
getting larger amounts of oxygen into the blood to oxidise the lactic acid
● This is known as ‘repaying the oxygen debt’