Biology

Main Differences between Aerobic and Anaerobic Respiration

Aerobic processes in cellular respiration can only occur if oxygen is present, Anaerobic processes do not use oxygen. Main Differences between Aerobic and Anaerobic Respiration:

Aerobic Respiration

  1. Oxygen: Require Oxygen
  2. Pyruvic Acid: Pyruvic Acid oxidized completely.
  3. Production of ATP: From one molecule glucose there produces 38 ATP
  4. End products: From each molecule of glucose there produce 6 molecules of CO2 and 6 molecules of water.

Example: Glucose + Oxygen → Carbon dioxide + Water + Energy

Chemical Equation:  C6 H12 O6 + 6O2  →   6CO2 + 6H2 O + 2900 kJ/mol

Anaerobic Respiration

  1. Oxygen: Do not require Oxygen
  2. Pyruvic Acid: Pyruvic Acid oxidized incompletely
  3. Production of ATP: From each molecule of glucose there produces 2 ATP
  4. End products: From each molecule of glucose there produce 2 molecules of ethanol and 2 molecules of CO2 or only 2 molecules of Lactic acid. No water is produced there.

Example: Glucose → Lactic acid + Energy

Chemical Equation: C6 H12 O→ 2C3 H6 O3 + 120 kJ/mol