Combustion and breathing

• Biologie
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 2

Photosynthesis

Glucose

Water

CO2

Oxygen

Combustion

Combustion is another name for burning.

In a combustion reaction, a fuel is burned and it reacts with oxygen (gas) to release energy.

Take for example the candle. 

The wax is the fuel. Burning the fuel (you need Oxygen for this) creates energy which is released in the form of heat and light.

When the fuel is burned, it disappears and other substances appear in its place. 

The substances produced by combustion are called combustion products. Sometimes also referred to as waste products (afvalstoffen).

Look at the candle again. You can see two black arrows going away from the flame. The arrows stand for the combustion products, in this case: Carbon dioxide (gas) + steam (water).

1) What does combustion mean?
2) What does it do?

1. 1) Burning, 2) create energy
2. 1) Burning, 2) create Oxygen
3. 1)Heat, 2) create energy
4. 1) Energy, 2) create Carbon dioxide

Make the formula of combustion in the candle.

Carbon Dioxide

Water

Oxygen

Energy

Fuel

What are the combustion products of the combustion of a candle?

1. Carbon dioxide and Oxygen
2. Oxygen and steam
3. Steam and Carbon dioxide
4. Carbon dioxide and energy

Soooo... what exactly does this have to do with our respiratory system?

At this point you know:

• What combustion is and how it creates energy,

• What combustion products are,

• What an indicator is.
  

(if you at this point do not know any of the above, 

read the slides again!)

The next slides will show you how combustion and our 

respiratory system are connected!

Respiration

A kind of combustion also happens in your body. The combustion in your body goes much slower than in a candle and it does not use fire. 

This combustion - called respiration - takes place in every single cell in your body. 

This goes on day and night, it never stops. Without respiration a cell dies.

Respiration happens in every living cell in every living organism.

Energy

Our body uses a lot of energy to:

•  Keep our body temperature at 37 degrees, 
•  to move, 
•  to grow, 
•  to keep our organs working etc. 

Respiration creates the energy we need to do the above. 

What happens during respiration?

Respiration can happen when we have Glucose (fuel)

and Oxygen. 

When breath out, you are getting rid of Carbon dioxide. 

You also lose some water when you exhale.

--> waste products.

Respiration produces the energy we need.

Cell respiration

Glucose

Oxygen

Energy

Carbon dioxide

Water

Make the right formula of respiration

Oxygen

Energy

Water

Glucose

Carbon Dioxide

What are the waste products of respiration

1. Carbon Dioxide + Oxygen
2. Oxygen + Water
3. Water + Energy
4. Carbon Dioxide + water

What is the fuel for respiration?

1. Carbon Dioxide
2. Oxygen
3. Glucose
4. Energy

Respiration only happens in humans

1. True
2. False

Respiration only happens during the day

1. True
2. False