Question

Why is fermentation less effective than respiration?

Answer 1

Fermentation is less effective than respiration because it only uses glycolysis as the main energy-producing pathway and does not generate a large amount of ATP. Respiration, on the other hand, involves the citric acid cycle and oxidative phosphorylation, which produce a much larger amount of ATP.

Step-by-step explanation:

Fermentation is less effective than respiration because it only uses glycolysis as the main energy-producing pathway. During fermentation, pyruvate, which is produced during glycolysis, is converted into either ethanol or lactic acid. This process does not generate a large amount of ATP, which is the cell's main source of energy. On the other hand, respiration involves the citric acid cycle and oxidative phosphorylation, which produce a much larger amount of ATP compared to fermentation. Respiration also utilizes oxygen as the final electron acceptor, while fermentation uses an organic molecule.

Answer 2

Fermentation is less effective because it does not have the capacity to completely break down the glucose molecule and therefore can only contribute to the production of two ATP molecules (via glycolysis), as opposed to the 36 produced during aerobic respiration

Step-by-step explanation: