Aerobic respiration
Exam-ready definition
The chemical reactions in cells that break down glucose using oxygen to release energy. Word equation: glucose + oxygen → carbon dioxide + water.
How this is marked
Mark schemes insist energy is 'released', never 'produced' or 'made'. Energy cannot be created. This single word distinction appears in almost every respiration mark scheme.
In an exam answer
Describing energy release in muscle cells: 'Glucose is broken down using oxygen in aerobic respiration, releasing energy for muscle contraction, and producing carbon dioxide and water.'
Full topic guide: Respiration
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