Glossary of Terms for
Cellular Respiration

ADP - adenine diphosphate, has less energy then ATP, only has 2 phosphate groups. When ATP is broken down only ADP and an extra phosphate remain

Aerobic Cellular Respiration -  respiration that uses free oxygen while glucose is completely oxidized

Anaerobic Cellular Respiration - respiration that does not use oxygen while glucose is partially oxidized

ATP - stands for adenosine triphosphate, the main energy storer in cellular respiration. It has 3 phosphate groups and the energy is released from it by the breaking of the second and the third phosphate

Electron Transport Chain - a series of oxidation-reduction reactions in which most of the energy produced from the breakdown of glucose is transferred to ATP

Fermentation - final reduction of the pyruvic acid made during glycolysis

Glycolysis - process of breaking down glucose in two 3-carbon molecules of pyruvic acid

Krebs Cycle - a series of chemical reactions that completely oxidizes the citric acid molecule

Oxidation - any chemical reaction where an atom or molecule loses electrons

Oxidation-Reduction Reaction -if an atom or molecule is oxidized, a different atom or molecule must be reduced. Any reaction in which this occurs is called an oxidation-reduction reaction

Oxygen Debt - The amount of oxygen needed to get rid of lactic acid created during strenuous exercise

PGAL (phosphoglyceraldehyde) - formed as an intermediate step in glycolysis and is made up of 3 molecules of carbon and 1 phosphate

Reduction - any chemical reaction where an atom or molecule gains electrons