Question

Many alcohols are made using a fermentation process where the bacteria and materials are sealed without oxygen. These bacteria use anaerobic respiration. How would their energy efficiency compare to aerobic bacteria?A. Energy efficiency is not related to the type of respiration. B. They will have an equal energy efficiency. C. They will have a lower energy efficiency. D. They will have a higher energy efficiency.

Answer 1

The correct answer is: C. They will have a lower energy efficiency.

Step-by-step explanation:

Similar to aerobic cellular respiration, anaerobic cellular respiration uses electrons taken from a fuel molecule to drive ATP production through an electron transport chain. Bacteria and archaea are prokaryotes that survive in low-oxygen conditions and use anaerobic respiration to break down energy.

Methanogens, for example, can employ carbon dioxide as a terminal electron acceptor and produce methane as a by-product. Methanogens may be found in soil as well as in the digestive tracts of ruminants. Fermentation is another anaerobic (non-oxygen-requiring) process for breaking down glucose that is used by a variety of species, including bacteria.

However, the glucose breakdown performed by anaerobic respiration isn't complete and thus, the energy released is 19 times less than aerobic respiration for the same amount of glucose.