In this deck, we'll explore respiration, a fundamental process for all living organisms. It's a topic where students often lose marks by confusing it with breathing. We'll clarify exactly what respiration is, look at the two different types – aerobic and anaerobic – and see how they work in animals and microorganisms like yeast. We will also cover how the body responds to exercise and the concept of metabolism.

So, what is respiration? It's not the same as breathing. Breathing is the physical process of moving air in and out of the lungs. Respiration is a chemical reaction that happens inside every single living cell to release energy from food, specifically a sugar called glucose. This energy is vital for all life processes, such as muscle contraction, keeping warm, and building larger molecules.

Because respiration releases energy into the surroundings, it is known as an exothermic reaction. In animal and plant cells, most of the reactions for aerobic respiration happen inside tiny structures called mitochondria. You might remember these as the 'powerhouses' of the cell.