gen-define-aerobic-versus-anaerobic-metabolism-and-give-one-shor-c4a7

Define aerobic versus anaerobic metabolism and give one short worked example.

# Aerobic vs Anaerobic Metabolism ## Definitions **Aerobic Metabolism** - Requires oxygen - Occurs in mitochondria - Produces ~30-32 ATP per glucose molecule - Complete breakdown: glucose → CO₂ + H₂O - Slow but efficient and sustainable **Anaerobic Metabolism** - Does NOT require oxygen - Occurs in cytoplasm - Produces only 2 ATP per glucose molecule - Incomplete breakdown: glucose → lactate (in animals) or ethanol (in yeast) - Fast but inefficient and unsustainable --- ## Worked Example **Question:** During a 100m sprint, a runner's muscles consume 90g of glucose in 10 seconds. If 20% is metabolized aerobically and 80% anaerobically, how much total ATP is produced? **Solution:** Molar mass of glucose = 180 g/mol Moles of glucose = 90g ÷ 180 g/mol = 0.5 mol **Aerobic portion (20%):** - Glucose used: 0.5 × 0.2 = 0.1 mol - ATP produced: 0.1 mol × 30 = 3 mol ATP **Anaerobic portion (80%):** - Glucose used: 0.5 × 0.8 = 0.4 mol - ATP produced: 0.4 mol × 2 = 0.8 mol ATP **Total ATP = 3 + 0.8 = 3.8 mol ATP** This illustrates why sprinters fatigue quickly—anaerobic metabolism dominates but is inefficient!