What is the net equation for glucose oxidation during cellular respiration?

What is the net equation for glucose oxidation during cellular respiration?

• A. C6H12O6 + 6 O2 → 6 CO2 + 6 H2O + 2 ATP
• B. C6H12O6 + 6 O2 → 6 CO2 + 6 H2O + 38 ATP
• C. C6H12O6 + 3 O2 → 3 CO2 + 3 H2O + 20 ATP
• D. C6H12O6 + 6 O2 → 6 CO2 + 6 H2O + 16 ATP

Answer: (B)

The net equation for glucose oxidation during cellular respiration captures the overall process in which glucose (C6H12O6) is broken down in the presence of oxygen (O2) to produce carbon dioxide (CO2), water (H2O), and energy in the form of ATP. In this process, glucose is ultimately converted into carbon dioxide and water, with a significant yield of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which serves as the energy currency of the cell. The balanced equation, C6H12O6 + 6 O2 → 6 CO2 + 6 H2O + 38 ATP, accurately reflects this process. It indicates that for every molecule of glucose oxidized, six molecules of oxygen are consumed, and the products include six molecules of carbon dioxide and six molecules of water. Importantly, this equation also highlights the maximum yield of ATP, which can go up to 38 ATP molecules under ideal conditions in eukaryotic cells. This high ATP yield results from the complete oxidation of glucose through key metabolic pathways such as glycolysis, the Krebs cycle (citric acid cycle), and the electron transport chain, which together provide the energy captured in the form of ATP via oxidative phosphorylation. While the

The net equation for glucose oxidation during cellular respiration captures the overall process in which glucose (C6H12O6) is broken down in the presence of oxygen (O2) to produce carbon dioxide (CO2), water (H2O), and energy in the form of ATP. In this process, glucose is ultimately converted into carbon dioxide and water, with a significant yield of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which serves as the energy currency of the cell.

The balanced equation, C6H12O6 + 6 O2 → 6 CO2 + 6 H2O + 38 ATP, accurately reflects this process. It indicates that for every molecule of glucose oxidized, six molecules of oxygen are consumed, and the products include six molecules of carbon dioxide and six molecules of water. Importantly, this equation also highlights the maximum yield of ATP, which can go up to 38 ATP molecules under ideal conditions in eukaryotic cells.

This high ATP yield results from the complete oxidation of glucose through key metabolic pathways such as glycolysis, the Krebs cycle (citric acid cycle), and the electron transport chain, which together provide the energy captured in the form of ATP via oxidative phosphorylation.

While the