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Year 11
AQA
Higher

Anaerobic cellular respiration in humans and other organisms

I can describe the reactants and products of anaerobic cellular respiration in humans, plants and microorganisms, and explain where, why and when it takes place.

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New
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Year 11
AQA
Higher

Anaerobic cellular respiration in humans and other organisms

I can describe the reactants and products of anaerobic cellular respiration in humans, plants and microorganisms, and explain where, why and when it takes place.

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These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Word and balanced symbol equations for anaerobic cellular respiration in humans, and conditions in which it occurs.
  2. Word and symbol equations for anaerobic respiration in plants and micro-organisms, and conditions in which it occurs.
  3. Anaerobic cellular respiration takes place only in the cell cytoplasm and does not involve mitochondria.
  4. Anaerobic cellular respiration transfers less energy than aerobic cellular respiration, but more quickly.
  5. Uses of anaerobic cellular respiration (fermentation) in yeast.

Keywords

  • Cellular respiration - an exothermic chemical process that transfers energy for life processes, using glucose as a fuel

  • Anaerobic - a process that does not require oxygen

  • Lactic acid - a product of anaerobic cellular respiration in humans that causes muscle cramps

  • Oxygen debt - the amount of oxygen necessary to remove lactic acid from the body after exercise

  • Fermentation - anaerobic cellular respiration in yeast that produces ethanol (a type of alcohol) and carbon dioxide gas

Common misconception

Students sometimes think that plants don't respire, and that they (only) photosynthesise instead.

This lesson contains examples of plants respiring.


To help you plan your year 11 combined science lesson on: Anaerobic cellular respiration in humans and other organisms, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Having students complete an exercise such as a wall sit can be a great way to demonstrate lactic acid build up. You could also have students do as many jumping jacks in a minute as they can, and notice the changes in their heart and breathing rates before and after.
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This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which chemical reactions release energy to the surroundings?
Correct Answer: exothermic
Q2.
Which is the correct symbol equation for respiration?
6O $$_2$$ + C$$_6$$H$$_6$$O$$_6$$ --> 3H$$_2$$O + 6CO$$_2$$
Correct answer: 6O $$_2$$ + C$$_6$$H$$_{12}$$O$$_6$$ --> 6H$$_2$$O + 6CO$$_2$$
6O $$_2$$ + C$$_6$$H$$_6$$O$$_6$$ --> 12H$$_2$$O + 6CO$$_2$$
Q3.
Which product is missing from the equation?
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: water
Q4.
True or false? Prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells carry out respiration.
Correct answer: true
false
Q5.
In which two places does cellular respiration take place in eukaryotic cells?
Correct answer: cytoplasm
chloroplasts
Correct answer: mitochondria
cell membrane
cell wall
Q6.
What is ethanol more commonly known as?
Correct Answer: alcohol, an alcohol

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
True or false? Anaerobic respiration takes place in the mitochondria of cells.
true
Correct answer: false
Q2.
What is the correct word equation for anaerobic respiration in yeast?
glucose --> oxygen + water
glucose + oxygen --> water + carbon dioxide
glucose + carbon dioxide --> water + ethanol
Correct answer: glucose --> ethanol + carbon dioxide
glucose + oxygen --> ethanol + water
Q3.
Which of the following are true about anaerobic respiration?
Anaerobic cellular respiration releases more energy than aerobic respiration.
Anaerobic respiration takes place when there is an excess of carbon dioxide.
Correct answer: Anaerobic cellular respiration releases energy quicker.
Lactic acid is produced by aerobic cellular respiration.
Correct answer: Anaerobic cellular respiration produces ethanol in plants and microorganisms.
Q4.
Match the symbol equation to its description.
Correct Answer:Anaerobic respiration in humans,C$$_6$$H$$_{12}$$O$$_6$$ --> 2C$$_3$$H$$_6$$O$$_3$$
tick

C$$_6$$H$$_{12}$$O$$_6$$ --> 2C$$_3$$H$$_6$$O$$_3$$

Correct Answer:Anaerobic respiration in microorganisms,C$$_6$$H$$_{12}$$O$$_6$$ --> C$$_2$$H$$_5$$OH + 6CO$$_2$$
tick

C$$_6$$H$$_{12}$$O$$_6$$ --> C$$_2$$H$$_5$$OH + 6CO$$_2$$

Q5.
Oxygen debt is the amount of oxygen necessary to remove from the body after exercise.
Correct Answer: lactic acid
Q6.
What are the uses of anaerobic cellular respiration (fermentation) in yeast?
Correct answer: making beer
Correct answer: making bread
making yogurt
Correct answer: making wine