A group of students set up the apparatus shown below to investigate respiration in yeast cells.
The oil layer prevents any oxygen from entering the yeast and glucose mixture. How will this lack of oxygen affect the metabolic processes of the yeast cells and the composition of the flask?
The yeast will respire anaerobically, producing lactic acid and releasing a large amount of energy per glucose molecule.
The yeast will switch to anaerobic respiration, producing ethanol and carbon dioxide, but this process transfers significantly less energy per glucose molecule than aerobic respiration.
The yeast cells will be unable to respire because respiration requires oxygen, meaning glucose levels and carbon dioxide levels in the system will remain completely constant.
The yeast will continue to respire aerobically by using oxygen atoms extracted from the glucose (C6H12O6C_6H_{12}O_6C6H12O6) molecules, releasing carbon dioxide and water.