What are the differences between aerobic and anaerobic respiration?

Aerobic Respiration

Anaerobic Respiration

1. It involves exchange of gases between the organism and the environment

1. An exchange of gas is absent.

2. It uses oxygen for breaking the respiratory material into simple substances

2. Oxygen is not used in the breakdown of respiratory substrate.

3. Respiratory material is completely oxidized

3. Respiratory material is incompletely broken.

4. The end products are inorganic

4. At least one of the end products is organic. Inorganic substances may or may not be produced.

5. Aerobic respiration is the normal mode of respiration of plants and animals.

5. It is the normal mode of respiration in some parasitic worms and microorganisms.

6. Aerobic respiration involved electron transport system.

6. Electron transport system is absent.

7. Aerobic respiration consists of three steps - glycolysis, krebs cycle and terminal oxidation

7. Anaerobic respiration consist of two steps - glycolysis and incomplete break down of pyruvic acid.

8. Every carbon atom of the food is oxidized and a large quantity of carbon dioxide is evolved

8. Less quantity of CO₂ is evolved.

9. It require the assistance of mitochondria.

9. Mitochondria are not required.

10. Water is formed.

10. Water is not formed

11. 686 Kcal of energy are produced per gram mole of glucose

11. Only 39-59 Kcal of energy are produced per gm mole of glucose.

12. It continues indefinitely.

12. Anaerobic respiration cannot continue indefinitely because of the accumulation of poisonous compounds and less availability of energy per gm mole of food broken.