One of the main outputs or products of respiration is carbon dioxide (CO2). During the process of cellular respiration, cells break down glucose to produce energy, and in this process, carbon dioxide is generated as a byproduct.
To explain further, respiration involves several biochemical pathways that convert glucose and oxygen into adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which cells use for energy. As glucose is oxidized, it releases energy, and carbon dioxide is formed when carbon atoms from glucose combine with oxygen. This carbon dioxide is then expelled from the cells, transported via the bloodstream to the lungs, and ultimately exhaled. Therefore, carbon dioxide serves as an important indicator of metabolic activity and respiratory efficiency in living organisms.