Respiration occurs in cells - Edexcel - GCSE Biology - Question 3 - 2023 - Paper 2
Question 3
Respiration occurs in cells.
(a) Why do cells respire?
A to produce nitrogen
B to release oxygen
C to produce glucose
D to release energy
(b) An athlete runs ever... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Respiration occurs in cells - Edexcel - GCSE Biology - Question 3 - 2023 - Paper 2
Step 1
Why do cells respire?
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Answer
Cells respire primarily to release energy. This energy is vital for various cellular processes, including growth, repair, and maintaining cellular functions. Thus, the correct answer is:
D to release energy.
Step 2
Explain why the breathing rate of the athlete increases when running.
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Answer
The breathing rate of the athlete increases during running for two main reasons:
To absorb more oxygen into the blood, allowing for greater oxygen availability for aerobic respiration, which is critical for energy production during prolonged physical activity.
To remove more carbon dioxide from the body. Increased physical exertion leads to elevated carbon dioxide levels, which can make the blood more acidic. Therefore, the body needs to expel this excess carbon dioxide quickly to maintain pH balance.
Step 3
State two differences between aerobic respiration and anaerobic respiration.
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Answer
Aerobic respiration requires oxygen, while anaerobic respiration does not utilize oxygen.
Aerobic respiration produces much more energy, specifically ATP, per glucose molecule compared to anaerobic respiration, which results in a significantly lower energy yield.