Final answer:
In cellular respiration, energy from glucose is efficiently transformed into ATP, the cell's energy currency, with some inevitable loss as heat.
Step-by-step explanation:
In cellular respiration, the energy from glucose oxidation is partially converted into adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which is a high-energy molecule that cells use for various functions. Despite some energy being lost as heat, a significant amount is captured as ATP. Through a series of biochemical reactions, including glycolysis, the Krebs cycle, and the electron transport chain, cells are able to harness the chemical potential energy stored in glucose and convert it into the more readily usable form, ATP. This process is highly efficient, conserving much of the energy from the original glucose molecule. Unlike a fire, which releases energy as both heat and light, cellular respiration is designed to capture energy in chemical form, primarily ATP, which can then directly fuel cellular work.