Energy and the role of ATP

Energy and the role of ATP

1. Describe aerobic respiration as splitting of glucose to release carbon dioxide, water and energy

• Energy is released when bonds between the carbon and hydrogen in glucose are broken to bring oxygen and hydrogen together to form water.
• Bonds between hydrogen and oxygen are stronger than bonds between carbon and hydrogen so input energy to break the glucose-oxygen bonds is not as great as energy released when carbon dioxide-hydrogen bonds are formed - the energy released can be used to generate ATP.

2. Describe a practical to investigate rate of respiration

• A respirometer can be used to determine the rate of aerobic respiration.
• The rate of oxygen produced by small organisms is measured.
• Potassium hydroxide solution is used to absorb any carbon dioxide produced.
• Oxygen absorbed results in fluid in the manometer tube moving towards the organism.
• Another tube without an organism can be used to determine any changes in pressure or temperature within the apparatus. 

3. Recall what ATP is and how it supplies energy for cells

• ATP is created from ADP after the addition of inorganic phosphate.
• Phosphate must be separated by the water molecules bound to it in order to create ATP - this…