Why is oxygen important? Not only is oxygen one of the most abundant gases in the world, it is one of the most important. Every living organism needs oxygen to survive. Organisms need this to perform cellular respiration. This is a process of burning food for energy for the body. Cellular respiration is the chemical process of turning sugar into energy, ATP. Oxygen, or O2,. is used for cellular respiration and CO2, H2O, and ATP are produced. [1] ATP*, also known as adenosine triphosphate, contains adenosine and a line of three phosphates. When the organism needs energy for their cells, they burn off the high energy bond phosphate, breaks down with the help of an enzyme called ATPase, making ADP. ADP, also known as adenosine diphosphate, only contains a line of two phosphates. After breaking down food, they will use that as energy for the bond, making it ADP back into ATP. [2] [1]http://www.ehow.com/facts_5916706_explain-cell-respiration.htm [2http://www.indepthinfo.com/biology/atp-adp-cycle.shtml]
Cellular Respiration Formula
*ATP
How do snails obtain oxygen? 1. Unlike most other gastropods that use gills for respiration, the garden snail uses their lung to exchange gas. They rely on dry air for oxygen. 2. The muscle valve controls the opening and the closing of the entrance of the lung, controlling the air flow in and out of the lung. The valve is used to prevent water loss. This helps prevent the garden snail from drowning and dying. It also helps retain moisture in the snail. The lung is connected to opening on the right side of the mantle cavity, the pneumostome. It is also known as the breathing pore. [1] 3. The breathing pore is where air enters and carbon dioxide exits. 4. The diaphragm's job is to fill oxygen in the lung and oxygen in the blood.* 5. Oxygen diffuses from the lungs into the blood. Carbon dioxide goes pass the blood to the lungs and is exhaled when the muscle valve opens. [2] *Fun Fact: The top of the lung contains a lot of blood vessels. Oxygen is absorbed by the blood. [1]http://animals.about.com/od/molluscs/p/pulmonates.htm [2]http://www.porcellio.scaber.org/Snails/Snail.htm