Final answer:
The reactants of cellular respiration are oxygen and glucose. These substances combine in a process that takes place in the mitochondria, ultimately producing ATP alongside waste products carbon dioxide, and water.
Step-by-step explanation:
Cellular respiration is a fundamental metabolic process that occurs in the cells of organisms to produce energy. The reactants of cellular respiration are oxygen and glucose. Oxygen is taken into the body through the process of breathing, and glucose enters the body via the food organisms eat. These reactants are essential for the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the energy currency of cells.
The equation for cellular respiration can be represented as follows: C6H12O6 + 6O2 → 6CO2 + 6H2O + Energy. This indicates that one molecule of glucose (C6H12O6) and six molecules of oxygen (O2) are transformed into six molecules of carbon dioxide (CO2) and six molecules of water (H2O), releasing energy in the process.
The main product of cellular respiration is ATP, which is generated from the energy released during the conversion of glucose and oxygen into carbon dioxide and water. The waste products, carbon dioxide and water, are byproducts of this reaction.