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