Question

In which process, respiration or fermentation, are carbohydrates not completely broken down? How does this affect the amount of ATP released?

A) Respiration; it results in more ATP production.
B) Fermentation; it results in more ATP production.
C) Respiration; it results in less ATP production.
D) Fermentation; it results in less ATP production.

Answer 1

During fermentation, carbohydrates are not completely broken down, which results in less ATP production compared to respiration.

Step-by-step explanation:

Fermentation is the process in which carbohydrates are not completely broken down. It occurs in the absence of oxygen and uses an organic molecule as a final electron acceptor, such as pyruvate. Fermentation does not involve an electron transport system and does not directly produce additional ATP beyond that produced during glycolysis.

This limited ATP production is in contrast to respiration, which occurs in the presence of oxygen and involves the complete breakdown of carbohydrates. During respiration, ATP is produced through both substrate-level phosphorylation in glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation in the electron transport chain. This results in a higher amount of ATP production compared to fermentation.

Therefore, the correct answer is C) Respiration; it results in less ATP production.