Question

Identify the correct equation for aerobic respiration.

• A. Glucose -> Pyruvate + Energy ->${\mathrm{CO}}_2$ + $H_{2}O$
• B. Glucose -> Pyruvate -> $H_{2}O$ + Energy
• C. Glucose -> Pyruvate + $H_{2}O$ -> Energy + ${\mathrm{CO}}_2$
• D. Glucose -> Pyruvate -> ${\mathrm{CO}}_2$ + $H_{2}O$ + Energy

Answer 1

The correct option is D Glucose -> Pyruvate -> ${\mathrm{CO}}_2$ + $H_{2}O$ + Energy

Aerobic respiration is basically a two step process. In the first step, glucose a six carbon molecule converts to pyruvate which is a three carbon molecule in the cytoplasm followed by the second step i.e. conversion of pyruvate into three molecules of carbon dioxide, water and energy in the presence of oxygen inside the mitochondria. The energy released during cellular respiration is immediately used to synthesise a molecule called ATP which is used to fuel all other activities in the cell.