What are the main products of cellular respiration?

The main products of cellular respiration are carbon dioxide, water, and ATP. During cellular respiration, organisms break down glucose in the presence of oxygen through a series of metabolic pathways, including glycolysis, the Krebs cycle, and the electron transport chain.

In the initial steps of glycolysis, glucose is converted into pyruvate, yielding a small amount of ATP and the reduced coenzyme NADH. Following glycolysis, if oxygen is present, pyruvate enters the mitochondria and is further processed in the Krebs cycle. This cycle produces additional ATP, as well as releasing electrons that are carried by NADH and FADH2 to the electron transport chain. As these electrons move through the electron transport chain, energy is released and used to convert ADP and inorganic phosphate into ATP. The end products of this process include carbon dioxide, which is released as a waste product, and water, formed when electrons and protons combine with oxygen.

The other choices contain products that are not generated through cellular respiration or are missing vital components. For instance, oxygen is not a product but rather a reactant needed for aerobic respiration. Similarly, nitrogen does not play a direct role in the process of cellular respiration related to energy production. Understanding these pathways aids in recognizing