Video Transcript
Which of the following is the
correct word equation for anaerobic respiration in animal cells? (A) Glucose plus oxygen produces
carbon dioxide plus water. (B) Glucose plus oxygen produces
lactic acid. (C) Glucose produces lactic
acid. (D) Lactic acid produces
glucose. (E) Glucose produces carbon
dioxide.
In cellular respiration, cells
convert the energy in glucose into ATP. Cellular respiration can occur in
either the presence or absence of oxygen. In humans, the preferred method of
cellular respiration is aerobic because it produces more ATP. However, if sufficient oxygen is
not available to match the demands of the cell, anaerobic respiration will
occur.
Since anaerobic respiration is
performed in the absence of oxygen, we can eliminate any reactions with oxygen as a
reactant, which includes answer choices (A) and (B). In addition, we also know that
glucose must also be a reactant of anaerobic respiration. So we can eliminate answer choice
(D) as well. In answer choice (E), only carbon
dioxide is produced. Since glucose contains carbon,
oxygen, and hydrogen, we know that this must be incorrect.
In anaerobic respiration, glucose
is converted into lactic acid and ATP. Therefore, answer choice (C) is
correct. Glucose produces lactic acid.
