3.43. Cellular Respiration Reactions http://www.ck12.org
3.43 Cellular Respiration Reactions
- Give the overall chemical equation for cellular respiration.
- Describe the energy changes that occur during cellular respiration.
“Now, take a deep breath so I can listen to your lungs.” Did your doctor ever tell you that, while listening to your
back or chest with a stethoscope? Breathing is often referred to as respiration. When you breathe, you take oxygen
into your lungs as you inhale, and you release carbon dioxide and water vapor as you exhale. Inside all the cells of
your body, a different kind of respiration takes place. This kind of respiration is called cellular respiration.
What is Cellular Respiration?
Cellular Respirationis the process in which the cells of living things break down the organic compound glucose
with oxygen to produce carbon dioxide and water. The overall chemical equation for cellular respiration is:
C 6 H 12 O 6 + 6O 2 →6CO 2 + 6H 2 O
As theFigure3.83 shows, cellular respiration occurs in the cells of all kinds of organisms, including those that make
their own food (autotrophs) as well as those that get their food by consuming other organisms (heterotrophs).
Q:How is cellular respiration related to breathing?