Aerobic respiration equation

Biology
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aerobic respiration equation

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What is the aerobic respiration equation?

Answer:
Aerobic respiration is a metabolic process in which cells convert glucose and oxygen into energy, carbon dioxide, and water. This process primarily takes place in the mitochondria of eukaryotic cells and is crucial for the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which cells use as a primary energy currency.

Overall Equation:

The general equation for aerobic respiration is:

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

Detailed Breakdown:

  1. Reactants:

    • Glucose (\text{C}_6\text{H}_{12}\text{O}_6): A six-carbon sugar that serves as the primary fuel source.
    • Oxygen (\text{O}_2): Taken up by cells from the environment.

  2. Products:

    • Carbon Dioxide (\text{CO}_2): A waste product expelled from the body through the respiratory system.
    • Water (\text{H}_2\text{O}): Another byproduct that can be used by the body for various physiological processes.
    • Energy (ATP): The main purpose of aerobic respiration. Approximately 30-36 molecules of ATP are produced per molecule of glucose during aerobic respiration.

Solution By Steps:

  1. Glycolysis

    • Location: Cytoplasm
    • Process:
      • Glucose (\text{C}_6\text{H}_{12}\text{O}_6) is broken down into two molecules of pyruvate (\text{C}_3\text{H}_4\text{O}_3).
      • This process yields a net gain of 2 ATP molecules and 2 NADH molecules.
    \text{C}_6\text{H}_{12}\text{O}_6 \rightarrow 2 \text{C}_3\text{H}_4\text{O}_3 + 2 \text{ATP} + 2 \text{NADH}

  2. Pyruvate Oxidation (Link Reaction)

    • Location: Mitochondrial matrix
    • Process:
      • Each pyruvate molecule is converted into Acetyl Coenzyme A (Acetyl CoA) \text{C}_2\text{H}_3\text{O} + \text{CoA}), releasing one carbon dioxide molecule and generating one NADH molecule per pyruvate.
    2 \text{C}_3\text{H}_4\text{O}_3 + 2 \text{CoA} + 2 \text{NAD}^+ \rightarrow 2 \text{C}_2\text{H}_3\text{O-CoA} + 2 \text{CO}_2 + 2 \text{NADH}

  3. Citric Acid Cycle (Krebs Cycle)

    • Location: Mitochondrial matrix
    • Process:
      • Each Acetyl CoA enters the cycle and combines with oxaloacetate (\text{C}_4\text{H}_4\text{O}_5) to form citrate (\text{C}_6\text{H}_5\text{O)_7). Through a series of reactions, this citrate is converted back into oxaloacetate. Each cycle produces 1 ATP, 3 NADH, and 1 FADH2, while releasing 2 molecules of CO2 per Acetyl CoA.
    \text{C}_2\text{H}_3\text{O-CoA} + 3 \text{NAD}^+ + \text{FAD} + \text{ADP} + \text{P}_i \rightarrow 2 \text{CO}_2 + 3 \text{NADH} + \text{FADH}_2 + \text{ATP}

  4. Electron Transport Chain (ETC) & Oxidative Phosphorylation

    • Location: Inner mitochondrial membrane
    • Process:
      • NADH and FADH2 donate electrons to the electron transport chain, powering the pumps that create a proton gradient across the inner mitochondrial membrane. ATP is synthesized as protons flow back through ATP synthase.
    10 \text{NADH} + 2 \text{FADH}_2 + 34 \text{ADP} + 34 \text{P}_i + 6 \text{O}_2 \rightarrow 34 \text{ATP} + 6 \text{H}_2\text{O}

Final Answer:

The overall equation for aerobic respiration is:

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