Fermentation and respiration are biological processes for energy production; respiration occurs with oxygen, yielding 38 ATP molecules, while fermentation occurs without oxygen, producing only 2 ATP molecules. Respiration can be aerobic or anaerobic, involving the breakdown of food molecules, whereas fermentation converts sugars into acids or alcohols. The primary difference lies in the ATP yield and the electron acceptors used in each process.

1. Explain the difference between fermentation and respiration in biology?
Solution
Fermentation and Respiration are the two widely used processes in biology.
Respiration : It is a biochemical process in which food molecules are broken down by cells of an
organism with the release of carbon dioxide , water and ATP ( energy currency of cells).
Food + oxygen gives carbondioxide + water + ATP.
Types : 1. Aerobic respiration : Occurs in presence of oxygen, performed by eukaryotic cells,
yields 38 ATP molecules and Occurs in both cytosol and mitochondria.
2 : Anaerobic Respiration : Occurs in absence of oxygen, performed by prokaryotic cells, yields
only 2 ATP molecules and Occurs in cytosol only.
Fermentation : Term ist used by Louis Pasteur in 19th century.
It is a metabolic process in which sugar is converted to acids or alcohol.
It occurs in yeast and bacteria and sometimes in muscle cells ( lactic acid fermentation )
Fermentation Occurs when electron transport chain becomes defunct due to lack of final electron
acceptor I,e oxygen.
Difference between Respiration and Fermentation:
1. Respiration uses oxygen as electron acceptor to form ATP while fermentation uses inorganic
donars ( Sulphur) to form ATP.
2. Both the processes convert nutrients from sugars to form ATP but they differ in their
processes and the amount of energy (ATP) produced.
3. Respiration produces 38 ATP molecules while fermentation produces only 2 ATP molecules.