Answer: Considerably less ATP than aerobic respiration gives.
- A Considerably more ATP than aerobic respiration gives
- B Hardly any ATP is produced during fermentation
- C Roughly the same amount of ATP as aerobic respiration
- D Considerably less ATP than aerobic respiration gives
Correct answer: D. Considerably less ATP than aerobic respiration gives
Explanation: Fermentation yields only 2 ATP per glucose molecule (from glycolysis), far less than the much larger ATP yield from complete aerobic respiration.
Aerobic respiration unfolds in three locations: glycolysis in the cytoplasm yields a small amount of ATP directly, the Krebs cycle in the mitochondrial matrix harvests electron carriers (NADH, FADH2), and the electron transport chain in the inner mitochondrial membrane uses those carriers to generate the bulk of the ATP, with O2 needed only at this final stage.
Concept context
Glycolysis, the Krebs cycle, the electron transport chain, fermentation, and the respiratory quotient. The cellular energy-release counterpart to photosynthesis.