What are the products of anaerobic respiration?

Sourav PanAugust 19, 2024

Answered

The products of anaerobic respiration vary depending on the organism and the type of anaerobic process occurring. Here are some common examples:

In Yeast (Alcoholic Fermentation):

• Ethanol (Alcohol)
• Carbon Dioxide (CO₂)

The overall reaction for alcoholic fermentation in yeast is:

C6​H1​2O6​→2C2​H5​OH+2CO2​

In Lactic Acid Bacteria (Lactic Acid Fermentation):

• Lactic Acid
• ATP (Energy)

The overall reaction for lactic acid fermentation is:

C6​H1​2O6​→2CH3​CHOHCOOH+2ATP

In Other Anaerobic Respiration Processes:

• Sulfate Reduction: Produces hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) when sulfate (SO₄²⁻) is used as the terminal electron acceptor.
• Nitrate Reduction: Produces nitrogen gases (N₂ or N₂O) when nitrate (NO₃⁻) is used as the terminal electron acceptor.
• Methanogenesis: Produces methane (CH₄) in methanogenic bacteria.

Each type of anaerobic respiration has distinct products based on the specific metabolic pathways and the electron acceptors used.