Question

Alcohol is formed by anaerobic respiration in muscle.
A. True
B. False

Answer 1

Hint: Anaerobic cellular respiration in contrast to aerobic cellular respiration does not need oxygen, and produces much less ATP. Another anaerobic (non-oxygen-requiring) mechanism for breaking down glucose is fermentation, one that is carried out by all kinds of organisms and cells.

Complete answer:
Glucose breaks down without oxygen in anaerobic respiration. The chemical reaction transfers glucose energy to the cell. Lactic acid, instead of carbon dioxide and water, is formed by anaerobic respiration. Sadly, this can lead to intense muscle cramps. In an anaerobic cycle, the electron transport chain (ETC) does not proceed without the presence of oxygen, since there is no terminal electron acceptor. Therefore, it is not possible to generate a normal number of ATP molecules. The anaerobic path utilizes pyruvate, the glycolysis end product. An abundance of NADH and pyruvate is present without the working ETC. Pyruvate is later reduced by NADH to lactate (lactic acid). The pathway of glycolysis generates 2 net ATP molecules that can be used to drive muscle contraction etc. for energy.
However, alcoholic fermentation occurs in yeast cells. The fermentation of alcohol, also known as ethanol fermentation, is the anaerobic process used by yeasts to transform simple sugars to ethanol and carbon dioxide. In the lack of oxygen, the alcohol fermentation process helps yeasts to break down sugar and results in by-products that benefit humans, like wine, etc.

So, the above statement is true.

Note: The 2 molecules of ATP are much less than aerobic respiration can make. Glycolysis will occur more quickly and lactic acid will be formed. This is important in circumstances such as exercise where muscle oxygen demand rises above supply, in ischaemic heart disease.