Why is respiration considered an exothermic reaction explain?
Question: Why is respiration considered an exothermic reaction explain?
Respiration is the process of breaking down food molecules in living cells to release energy. This energy can be used for various purposes, such as heat, movement, growth and active uptake. Respiration is considered an exothermic reaction because it releases heat into the surroundings as a byproduct.
How does respiration release heat? To understand this, we need to look at the chemical equation of respiration. The most common food molecule that is respired is glucose, which has the formula C6H12O6. Glucose reacts with oxygen (O2) in the mitochondria of cells to produce carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O). The equation for this reaction is:
C6H12O6 + 6O2 → 6CO2 + 6H2O + energy
The energy that is released in this reaction is mainly in the form of heat. This is because the bonds that are formed in the products (CO2 and H2O) are more stable than the bonds that are broken in the reactants (C6H12O6 and O2). Stable bonds have lower energy than unstable bonds, so when bonds are formed, energy is released. This energy can be measured by the change in enthalpy (∆H) of the reaction, which is negative for exothermic reactions.
The ∆H for respiration is about -2805 kJ per mole of glucose. This means that for every mole of glucose that is respired, 2805 kJ of heat energy is released into the surroundings. This heat can be felt when we exhale warm air or when we touch our skin.
Respiration is an important exothermic reaction that allows living organisms to obtain energy from food molecules. Without respiration, life would not be possible.
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