Final answer:
Glucose is used by cells to produce energy through cellular respiration, which involves glycolysis, the Krebs cycle, and oxidative phosphorylation, resulting in the formation of ATP.
Step-by-step explanation:
Glucose is used to produce energy for the cell through the process of cellular respiration. This process involves the breakdown of glucose molecules through glycolysis, the Krebs cycle, and oxidative phosphorylation to produce ATP, the molecule that powers all the cellular processes. Photosynthesis is a process that contrasts cellular respiration, as it involves the creation of carbohydrates using sunlight energy, whereas cellular respiration breaks down those carbohydrates to release stored energy.
During cellular respiration, glucose and oxygen react to form carbon dioxide and water. This process extracts energy from the bonds of glucose to convert it into ATP which is essential for proper cellular function. ATP is considered the energy currency of the cell, fueling various cellular activities.
While both photosynthesis and cellular respiration are interdependent, cellular respiration specifically relates to energy production in cells, metabolizing carbohydrates produced through photosynthesis to harness energy.