How respiration and digestion are exothermic processes?
Respiration is an exothermic process because in respiration Carbon dioxide present in food breaks down to form glucose. This glucose combines with Oxygen in the cells of our body and releases high amount of energy.
The reaction involves :
C6H12O6 + 6O2 →6CO2 + 6H2O + Energy
Digestion is an exothermic reaction. During the process of digestion complex substances such as starch carbohydrates and proteins are broken down into simpler form such as simple sugar and amino acids respectively.
Then these simpler substances combine with oxygen in the cells of our body and form carbon dioxide,water and release a lot of energy in the form of ATP.
Since energy is produced in the process of digestion ,it is an exothermic reaction.