Aerobic respiration primarily produces three key products: carbon dioxide, water, and ATP (adenosine triphosphate).
During aerobic respiration, glucose (or other organic molecules) is completely broken down in the presence of oxygen. This process occurs in several stages, which include glycolysis, the Krebs cycle, and oxidative phosphorylation. First, glucose is converted into pyruvate during glycolysis, which occurs in the cytoplasm. This pyruvate then enters the mitochondria, where it undergoes a series of reactions in the Krebs cycle, producing intermediate molecules.
As the Krebs cycle proceeds, carbon dioxide is released as a waste product. This is the carbon that was originally found in glucose. The production of water occurs at the final stage of respiration, known as oxidative phosphorylation, where electrons are transferred through a series of proteins in the mitochondrial membrane. Finally, ATP is generated, which is the usable energy currency for the cell.
In summary, the main products of aerobic respiration are:
- Carbon Dioxide (CO2) – expelled as a waste product.
- Water (H2O) – produced during the electron transport chain.
- ATP – the energy currency harvested for cellular functions.