Yeast Fermentation Virtual Lab An Investigation into Cellular Respiration In this lab, students will conduct an experiment to observe the process of cellular respiration by observing yeast cells. What is necessary for the cells to complete the process of cellular respiration? What products should we look for? Find out by collecting and analyzing data in this virtual lab! Background: Running on Empty: Uh-oh! Your car is low on gas…better hit the nearest gas station and fill up! But what about you? How do you get the fuel you need? And how does your body use that fuel? The answer is through a process called cellular respiration! Cellular Respiration is the process that allows your body to take fuel from food and convert into usable energy that your body can use to do all the things our bodies can do! During cellular respiration, your body uses sugars like glucose to make energy. The chemical reaction looks like this: C6H12O6 + 6O2 → 6CO2 + 6H2O In addition to producing carbon dioxide gas and water, cellular respiration also produces ATP, the energy molecule. We call this reaction an aerobic reaction, because it requires oxygen. When the chemical bonds in the glucose are broken, it releases the stored chemical energy inside the bonds. This energy is transferred to ATP, which is released as stored energy and heat. Both plants and animals complete the process of cellular respiration, which takes place in the mitochondria of the cell. Plants receive the glucose needed for cellular respiration from the Sun though the process of photosynthesis. Animals obtain glucose needed from cellular respiration by eating foods such as plants that contain glucose. Pre-lab questions: 1. Fill in the missing boxes using the formula for cellular respiration: Reactants of Cellular Respiration Products of Cellular Respiration Chemical formula Chemical formula C6H12O6 Compound Name Glucose Oxygen 2. Compound Carbon Dioxide H2 O Cellular Respiration is an “aerobic” reaction. What does that mean? What ingredient or reactant must be present in order for the reaction to occur? 3. What types of organisms perform cellular respiration? select from the drop down Plants Part 2: Yeast Fermentation Virtual Lab For this virtual experiment, we will be using the YEAST FERMENTATION lab site. Yeast (a microscopic fungus) are capable of both cellular respiration and fermentation. When yeast cells are kept in an anaerobic environment (i.e., without oxygen), they switch to alcoholic fermentation to generate usable energy from food. In the presence of oxygen, they are able to complete cellular respiration. Once you go to the site, click START What are the materials we will be using in this experiment? What equipment will we be using? Prepare the 5 flasks, fill in the reactants placed in the five flasks in the chart below: Flask #1 Flask #2 Flask #3 Flask #4 Flask #5 Click NEXT to allow the reaction to happen for 24 hours. In order for cellular respiration to occur, it needs to have SUGAR (glucose) and WATER and something to metabolize the sugar (yeast). If cellular respiration occurs, it should produce oxygen gas, and the balloon should blow up! See if you can match the correct results to each balloon. What flasks produced a gas? You will now test the gas from the two balloons to see what gas was produced. Test the pH of each beaker. What gas is produced during fermentation? Record the results and explanations for each of the flasks in the chart below: Flask Did the balloon inflate 1 Yes balloon inflated 2 Yes balloon inflated 3 Yes balloon inflated 4 Yes balloon inflated 5 Yes balloon inflated Explanation How is the process of fermentation like cellular respiration? How is it different?
