Which of the following are the final by-products of glucose oxidation during aerobic cell respiration?
A. ATP only
B. heat only
C. carbon dioxide only
D. both ATP and heat only
E. ATP, heat, and carbon dioxide
I know that the following equation is true of the oxidation of a molecule glucose:
6O2 + C6H12O6 --> 6H2O + 6CO2 + 38ATP
From this, I see that carbon dioxide and ATP are products. The question asks for "final by-products," so are these two considered by-products in this reaction? If these two ARE considered by-products, then the only answer that would work is E. This would mean that heat is also a by-product. Is that true then?
If so, then the answer is E. ATP, heat, and carbon dioxide.
Yes, the equation you provided represents the overall process of glucose oxidation during aerobic cell respiration. In this reaction, glucose (C6H12O6) is oxidized with oxygen (O2) to produce water (H2O), carbon dioxide (CO2), and ATP.
In the context of this reaction, the term "by-products" refers to the substances that are produced as a result of the reaction but are not the primary intended products. In this case, water and ATP are not by-products because they are directly involved in the energy production process of cell respiration.
The correct answer to the question is E. ATP, heat, and carbon dioxide are the final by-products of glucose oxidation during aerobic cell respiration. ATP is the primary energy currency of the cell and is used for various cellular processes, while carbon dioxide is a waste product that is expelled from the body. Heat is also released as a by-product of the overall energy-releasing reactions.