What substance is removed from the air by living things for respiration?

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what substance is removed from the air by living things for respiration?

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What Substance is Removed from the Air by Living Things for Respiration?

Answer: Living organisms require a vital substance for the process of respiration: oxygen. Oxygen is the substance removed from the air by living things during respiration. It plays a crucial role in the survival and metabolism of aerobic organisms, including most plants, animals, and microorganisms.

Understanding Respiration

To fully grasp why oxygen is essential, let’s delve into the concept of respiration. Respiration is a biochemical process where cells in an organism obtain energy by combining oxygen and glucose to produce carbon dioxide, water, and ATP (adenosine triphosphate). The equation for cellular respiration is:

C_6H_{12}O_6 + 6O_2 \rightarrow 6CO_2 + 6H_2O + ATP

Here, glucose (C_6H_{12}O_6) and oxygen (O_2) are reactants, while carbon dioxide (CO_2), water (H_2O), and energy in the form of ATP are products.

Role of Oxygen in Cellular Respiration

  • Oxygen as Electron Acceptor: Oxygen acts as the final electron acceptor in the electron transport chain, an integral part of aerobic respiration. Without oxygen, the electron transport chain would cease to function, and ATP production would halt.

  • Energy Production: The purpose of oxygen in respiration is to facilitate the production of ATP, the cell’s energy currency. This energy is vital for various cellular activities and overall functioning of living organisms.

Types of Respiration

There are two main types of respiration that involve oxygen:

  1. Aerobic Respiration:

    • Process: Requires oxygen.
    • Efficiency: Produces a significant amount of energy (up to 38 ATP molecules from a single glucose molecule).
    • Organisms: Common in humans, animals, and many plants.

  2. Anaerobic Respiration:

    • Process: Occurs without oxygen.
    • Efficiency: Produces much less energy (only 2 ATP molecules per glucose molecule).
    • Organisms: Some bacteria and yeast can perform anaerobic respiration.

How Living Things Obtain Oxygen

  • Plants: Use stomata, tiny pores on leaves, for gas exchange. During the day, they take in carbon dioxide for photosynthesis and release oxygen.

  • Animals: Utilize specialized organs like lungs or gills for extracting oxygen from the environment.

  • Microorganisms: Many aerobic bacteria acquire oxygen directly from their surroundings.

Importance of Oxygen in Ecosystems

  • Life Sustenance: As the basis of aerobic respiration, oxygen is fundamental for life processes.

  • Biogeochemical Cycles: Oxygen is a part of complex environmental cycles, such as the carbon and oxygen cycles, maintaining ecological balance.

  • Atmospheric Role: Constitutes approximately 21% of the Earth’s atmosphere, supporting the survival of aerobic organisms over billions of years.

In summary, oxygen is the critical substance extracted from the air by living organisms for respiration, fostering energy production and sustenance of life across the globe.

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