The reactants of cellular respiration are glucose (a sugar) and oxygen. Glucose serves as the primary fuel molecule, while oxygen acts as the electron acceptor in the process
. In summary:
- Glucose (C6H12O6): The main carbohydrate molecule broken down to release energy.
- Oxygen (O2): Required for aerobic respiration to accept electrons at the end of the electron transport chain.
These reactants combine during cellular respiration to produce carbon dioxide, water, and energy in the form of ATP (adenosine triphosphate)
. The overall chemical equation is often represented as:
Glucose+Oxygen→Carbon dioxide+Water+Energy (ATP)\text{Glucose}+\text{Oxygen}\rightarrow \text{Carbon dioxide}+\text{Water}+\text{Energy (ATP)}Glucose+Oxygen→Carbon dioxide+Water+Energy (ATP)
or more specifically:
C6H12O6+6O2→6CO2+6H2O+energy (ATP)C_6H_{12}O_6+6O_2\rightarrow 6CO_2+6H_2O+\text{energy (ATP)}C6H12O6+6O2→6CO2+6H2O+energy (ATP)
This process occurs in stages including glycolysis, the citric acid cycle, and oxidative phosphorylation, all aimed at converting the chemical energy stored in glucose into usable cellular energy
