Main Differences between Aerobic and Anaerobic Respiration

Aerobic processes in cellular respiration can only occur if oxygen is present, Anaerobic processes do not use oxygen. Main Differences between Aerobic and Anaerobic Respiration:

Aerobic Respiration

1. Oxygen: Require Oxygen
2. Pyruvic Acid: Pyruvic Acid oxidized completely.
3. Production of ATP: From one molecule glucose there produces 38 ATP
4. End products: From each molecule of glucose there produce 6 molecules of CO₂ and 6 molecules of water.

Example: Glucose + Oxygen → Carbon dioxide + Water + Energy

Chemical Equation:  C₆ H₁₂ O₆ + 6O₂  →   6CO₂ + 6H₂ O + 2900 kJ/mol

Anaerobic Respiration

1. Oxygen: Do not require Oxygen
2. Pyruvic Acid: Pyruvic Acid oxidized incompletely
3. Production of ATP: From each molecule of glucose there produces 2 ATP
4. End products: From each molecule of glucose there produce 2 molecules of ethanol and 2 molecules of CO₂ or only 2 molecules of Lactic acid. No water is produced there.

Example: Glucose → Lactic acid + Energy

Chemical Equation: C₆ H₁₂ O₆ → 2C3 H6 O3 + 120 kJ/mol