Final answer:
The production of carbon dioxide during aerobic respiration occurs during the conversion of pyruvate to acetyl CoA in the mitochondria. This step releases one carbon atom from each pyruvate molecule as carbon dioxide.
Step-by-step explanation:
The step in aerobic respiration that includes the production of carbon dioxide is the conversion of pyruvate to acetyl CoA. During this process, each pyruvate molecule loses one carbon in the form of carbon dioxide, which is released as a byproduct. This conversion is part of the pyruvate oxidation and takes place inside the mitochondria when oxygen is present.
The overall process of cellular respiration consists of several steps, including glycolysis, the transformation of pyruvate into acetyl CoA, the Krebs cycle, and oxidative phosphorylation. Glycolysis produces pyruvate, which is then transported into the mitochondria. There it undergoes a three-step process, whereby one carbon is removed to form acetyl CoA and carbon dioxide. This production of acetyl CoA is essential for the next phase of glucose catabolism, the citric acid cycle.