Can someone explain why, when sugar is burnt aerobically, it yields more energy than if it is burnt in anaerobic conditions?
My thesis is that in aerobic conditions, there is an abundant supply of oxygen which can burn the sugar and thus, creating ATP (energy) which is limited by the amount of sugar present. However, in anaerobic conditions, there isn't that supply of oxygen to readily burn the sugar, thus, ATP is not produced in that abundance as was the first case scenario.
Is that concept right?
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yes, in the case of limited oxygen, one gets other products (other than CO2 and water). THose products waste the energy stored in sugar to making those products.
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