Which of the following is a byproduct of cellular respiration?

Cellular respiration is a metabolic process that breaks down glucose to produce energy in the form of ATP. During this process, glucose undergoes a series of chemical reactions, including glycolysis, the Krebs cycle, and oxidative phosphorylation.

One of the key outcomes of these reactions is the production of carbon dioxide as a byproduct. In aerobic respiration, glucose is oxidized, and the carbon atoms from glucose are released in the form of carbon dioxide. This gas is then expelled from the cells and ultimately exhaled by organisms.

In contrast, oxygen is consumed during the electron transport chain as it serves as the final electron acceptor. Glucose is not a byproduct; it’s the starting material for cellular respiration. Lactic acid can be produced as a byproduct in anaerobic respiration, but it is not universally produced in all types of cellular respiration. Therefore, within the context of standard cellular respiration, carbon dioxide is indeed a principal byproduct, highlighting its significance in metabolic processes.