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  • Edexcel

Explaining the effect of temperature on the rate of cellular respiration

I can analyse data collected from a respirometer, calculate the rate of cellular respiration, and explain the effect of temperature on the rate.

New
New
  • Edexcel

Explaining the effect of temperature on the rate of cellular respiration

I can analyse data collected from a respirometer, calculate the rate of cellular respiration, and explain the effect of temperature on the rate.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Calculate the rate of respiration by dividing the distance moved up the capillary tube of a respirometer by the time.
  2. Use appropriate units for the rate of cellular respiration.
  3. Compare the rate of respiration in small organisms at different temperatures.
  4. Describe trends in the data.
  5. Use ideas about enzymes and rate of chemical reactions to explain the effect of temperature on the rate of respiration.

Keywords

  • Rate - A measure of how much change occurs per unit of time.

  • Cellular respiration - An exothermic chemical process that transfers energy for life processes, using glucose as fuel.

  • Respirometer - Apparatus used to measure the rate of respiration in small organisms.

  • Enzyme - A biological catalyst.

  • Denature - When bonds in an enzyme molecule break and the molecule changes shape.

Common misconception

Not appreciating that increasing temperature up to the optimum has a different effect on rate than increasing temperature above the optimum.

The effects on rate of increasing temperature up to and beyond the optimum are explained.

Students can use their own data collected from a previous practical lesson, or data collected by your technician, or the sample data provided in the slide deck and worksheet.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Content guidance

  • Risk assessment required - equipment

Supervision

Adult supervision required

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2026), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Prior knowledge starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What kind of cellular respiration is used to produce alcoholic drinks?

An image in a quiz
aerobic cellular respiration in animal cells
anaerobic cellular respiration in animal cells
Correct answer: anaerobic cellular respiration in yeast cells
aerobic cellular respiration in yeast cells

Q2.
Bacteria that produce lactic acid when they respire are used in the production of yogurt from milk. What can you conclude about the amount of oxygen dissolved in milk?

There must be lots of oxygen dissolved in milk.
There must be some oxygen dissolved in milk.
Correct answer: There must be very little oxygen dissolved in milk.

Q3.
The simple respirometer shown in the diagram is used to investigate the effect of temperature on the rate of cellular respiration. Match each variable to its correct example.

An image in a quiz
Correct Answer:dependent variable,the distance moved by the coloured water

the distance moved by the coloured water

Correct Answer:independent variable,the temperature of the water bath

the temperature of the water bath

Correct Answer:control variable,the number of germinating peas

the number of germinating peas

Q4.
When using this type of respirometer, the water moves up the capillary tube because the pressure inside the test tube falls. Why does the pressure in the tube fall?

An image in a quiz
Correct answer: Oxygen is used and the carbon dioxide produced is absorbed by the soda lime.
Carbon dioxide is used and the oxygen produced is absorbed by the soda lime.
Soda lime absorbs oxygen before it can be used in respiration.
Soda lime absorbs carbon dioxide before it can be used in respiration.

Q5.
A student plans to use a respirometer to investigate the effect of temperature and amount of glucose on the rate of respiration. The investigation will not produce valid results. Why?

Neither of the two dependent variables will affect the rate of respiration.
The two dependent variables will both affect the rate of respiration.
Neither of the two independent variables will affect the rate of respiration.
Correct answer: The two independent variables will both affect the rate of respiration.

Q6.
A student used the respirometer shown. After 5 minutes at 25 °C, the coloured water moved 8 mm towards tube A and 2 mm towards tube B. How many mm has the water moved because of cellular respiration?

An image in a quiz
Correct answer: 6 mm
8 mm
10 mm
16 mm

Assessment exit quiz

Download quiz pdf

6 Questions

Q1.
The respirometer shown is used to measure the rate of respiration. What units would the rate of respiration be measured in?

An image in a quiz
°C/minute
cm$$^3$$/minute
seconds/minute
Correct answer: mm/minute

Q2.
The following table shows results from a respirometer experiment. What conclusion can be drawn from these results?

An image in a quiz
As the temperature increases, the rate of cellular respiration decreases.
Correct answer: As the temperature increases, the rate of cellular respiration increases.
As the temperature increases, the rate of cellular respiration stays the same.

Q3.
The following table shows results from a respirometer experiment. Which statement about the data is true?

An image in a quiz
The rate triples for every 10 °C rise in temperature.
Correct answer: The rate doubles for every 10 °C rise in temperature.
The increase in rate is linear.
The rate increases by 0.5 mm/min every 10 °C.

Q4.
Enzymes work as catalysts because the substrate precisely fits into part of the enzyme molecule called the active site. Scientists use the and key model to describe this precise fit.

Correct Answer: lock

Q5.
Which of these is the best explanation of why the rate of cellular respiration increases with temperature?

Molecules move faster.
Molecules have more effective collisions.
Substrate molecules and enzyme molecules have more energy.
Correct answer: Substrate molecules and enzyme active sites collide more often.

Q6.
At 55 °C, the temperature is so high that it breaks bonds in the enzyme molecule, changing its 3D shape. The enzyme is and no longer works.

An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: denatured, de-natured

Lesson appears in

UnitBiology / Aerobic and anaerobic cellular respiration

EdexcelBiology

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UnitCombined science / Aerobic and anaerobic cellular respiration

EdexcelCombined science

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