Final answer:
Cellular respiration is the process where cells release energy to drive cellular activities, characterized as an exergonic reaction. It involves catabolic reactions that break down glucose in the presence of oxygen to produce carbon dioxide, water, and ATP, which is used by the cell.
Step-by-step explanation:
Cellular Respiration
The chemical reaction that occurs when a cell releases energy to drive cellular processes is B. Cellular respiration. Cellular respiration is a series of metabolic reactions that convert carbohydrates and oxygen into carbon dioxide, water, and chemical energy in the form of ATP (adenosine triphosphate). This process can be summarized by the chemical equation C6H12O6 + 6O2 → 6CO2 + 6H2O + Energy. The ATP produced is then used to power various cell functions.
Reaction Classifications
Cellular respiration is an exergonic process as it releases energy. Conversely, photosynthesis is an endergonic process as it requires energy to proceed. Catabolic reactions, like those in cellular respiration, break down molecules and release energy. Anabolic reactions build larger molecules from smaller ones and require the input of energy.
Catabolic Processes
Catabolic processes involve breaking down complex molecules. An example is a. digestion of sucrose, where a complex carbohydrate is broken down into simpler sugars. This is different from simply dissolving sugar in water, which does not involve breaking chemical bonds.