Question

Which of the following steps in aerobic respiration include the production of carbon dioxide?

A) breakdown of glucose
B) glycolysis
C) conversion of pyruvate to acetyl CoA
D) oxidative phosphorylation

Answer 1

The steps in aerobic respiration that produce carbon dioxide are the breakdown of glucose, conversion of pyruvate to acetyl CoA, and oxidative phosphorylation.

Step-by-step explanation:

The steps in aerobic respiration that include the production of carbon dioxide are:

1. Breakdown of glucose: This occurs during glycolysis and pyruvate oxidation, where a molecule of glucose is split into two pyruvate molecules.
2. Conversion of pyruvate to acetyl CoA: This step occurs after glycolysis when pyruvate is transported into the mitochondria and transformed into acetyl CoA. During this process, one carbon dioxide molecule is released.
3. Oxidative phosphorylation: In the final step of aerobic respiration, electrons extracted from food move down the electron transport chain, ultimately resulting in the production of carbon dioxide, water, and ATP.