What process converts glucose and oxygen into carbon dioxide and water in cells?

The process that converts glucose and oxygen into carbon dioxide and water in cells is cellular respiration. This biochemical process occurs within the cells of organisms, including humans, and is essential for converting the energy stored in glucose into a usable form, specifically ATP (adenosine triphosphate).

During cellular respiration, glucose undergoes a series of chemical reactions that include glycolysis, the Krebs cycle, and the electron transport chain. As a result of these reactions, glucose is broken down while oxygen acts as the final electron acceptor, leading to the production of carbon dioxide and water as byproducts. This process is critical for maintaining the energy balance within cells and supporting various cellular functions necessary for life.

In contrast, photosynthesis is used by plants to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen using sunlight, which is the opposite process. Fermentation is an anaerobic process that occurs in the absence of oxygen, producing energy, but it does not convert glucose fully to carbon dioxide and water and can produce different end products such as alcohol or lactic acid. Chemical digestion refers to the breakdown of food into smaller, absorbable components, primarily occurring in the digestive system, and is not specifically related to the process of energy production at the cellular level.