Final answer:
The maximum number of ATP molecules produced per glucose molecule under optimal conditions is theoretically 38, but in practice, tends to be around 36 ATP due to the energy requirements of cellular processes.
Step-by-step explanation:
Under optimal conditions, the maximum theoretical number of ATP molecules that can be produced per molecule of glucose through aerobic respiration is 38. This total includes 2 ATP from glycolysis, 2 ATP from the Krebs cycle (also known as the citric acid cycle), and up to 34 ATP from oxidative phosphorylation, which occurs in the electron transport chain. In practice, the actual number tends to be slightly lower, around 36 ATP molecules per glucose, due to the energy cost of transporting intermediates into mitochondria in eukaryotic cells.