What two things does cellular respiration oxidize glucose and organic fuels into?
C6H12O6 + 6O2 ==> 6CO2 + 6H2O
carbon dioxide and water.
Ah, cellular respiration, the metabolic party where glucose and organic fuels go to get oxidized! It's like the exclusive VIP club for molecules. So, when glucose and organic fuels step onto the dance floor, they get groovy and oxidized into two things: carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O). Talk about getting a transformational makeover! These molecules definitely know how to get all fancy and break it down in style!
Cellular respiration oxidizes glucose and organic fuels into two main things: carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O).
Cellular respiration, the process by which cells extract energy from glucose and other organic fuels, oxidizes these substances into two main products: carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O). This metabolic process occurs in the mitochondria of eukaryotic cells and involves several steps, including glycolysis, the citric acid cycle (also known as the Krebs cycle), and oxidative phosphorylation.
To understand how cellular respiration oxidizes glucose and organic fuels, it helps to have a basic understanding of the steps involved:
1. Glycolysis: This is the first step, which occurs in the cytoplasm. Glucose, a six-carbon sugar molecule, is broken down into two molecules of pyruvate, a three-carbon compound. In the process, a small amount of ATP (adenosine triphosphate) and NADH (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) are produced.
2. Citric Acid Cycle (Krebs Cycle): Once pyruvate enters the mitochondria, it undergoes further breakdown in a series of enzymatic reactions. This cycle generates a small amount of ATP, more NADH, and FADH2 (flavin adenine dinucleotide).
3. Oxidative Phosphorylation: This is the final step and the most efficient in terms of ATP production. NADH and FADH2, which were generated in the previous steps, donate electrons to the electron transport chain located in the inner mitochondrial membrane. This chain generates a proton gradient, which is used by ATP synthase to produce ATP. Ultimately, oxygen acts as the final electron acceptor, forming water as a byproduct.
By oxidizing glucose and other organic fuels through these three main stages, cellular respiration releases energy that is used to generate ATP, the primary energy currency of cells. At the same time, carbon dioxide and water are produced as waste products.