Aerobic Respiration

• Aerobic respiration is the series of chemical reactions occurring inside living cells that use oxygen to completely break down nutrient molecules (primarily glucose) to release energy for metabolic processes.
  • Since it completely oxidizes glucose, aerobic respiration releases a relatively large amount of energy compared to anaerobic respiration. Most of these reactions take place inside specialized cellular structures called mitochondria.

Equations of aerobic respiration

Word equation

glucose} + oxygen -> carbon dioxide + water

Balanced chemical equation

C6H12O6 + 6O2 -> 6CO2 + 6H2O

Key components

• The reactants are glucose from digested food and oxygen which is absorbed by gas exchange surfaces.
• The products are carbon dioxide and water (both are metabolic waste products excreted by the body).
• Useful energy is transferred to the cell in the form of ATP.