Final answer:
The greatest number of ATP molecules during cellular respiration is produced during oxidative phosphorylation, which occurs after glycolysis and the Krebs cycle and can yield up to 32 ATP molecules out of the total 36 ATP made from one glucose molecule.
Step-by-step explanation:
During cellular respiration, the greatest number of ATP molecules is produced during the process of oxidative phosphorylation. Cellular respiration includes several stages: glycolysis, the Krebs cycle, and oxidative phosphorylation. While glycolysis occurs in the cytoplasm and produces a net gain of 2 ATP molecules, and the Krebs cycle takes place within the mitochondrial matrix producing about 2 ATP molecules, it is the oxidative phosphorylation stage, specifically the electron transport chain and ATP synthase activity within the mitochondria, that produces the highest yield of ATP. Up to 32 ATP molecules can be generated during oxidative phosphorylation, leading to a total of up to 36 molecules of ATP produced from a single molecule of glucose when all three stages are considered.