What is the main difference between aerobic and anaerobic respiration?

Aerobic respiration is characterized by its requirement for oxygen. This process occurs in the mitochondria of eukaryotic cells and utilizes oxygen to fully oxidize glucose, leading to the production of carbon dioxide and water, as well as a higher yield of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) compared to anaerobic respiration. Oxygen is essential in aerobic respiration as it acts as the final electron acceptor in the electron transport chain, allowing for the efficient conversion of energy stored in glucose into usable energy (ATP).

In contrast, anaerobic respiration does not require oxygen. Instead, it occurs in environments where oxygen is limited or absent, leading to the production of byproducts such as lactic acid in animals or ethanol and carbon dioxide in yeast. Though anaerobic processes can still generate ATP, they do so much less efficiently than aerobic respiration.