Final answer:
During respiration, oxygen (O2) is exchanged with the waste product carbon dioxide (CO2). This exchange occurs due to cellular respiration, which requires oxygen and produces CO2 as a byproduct.
Step-by-step explanation:
During respiration, oxygen (O2) is exchanged with the waste product carbon dioxide (CO2). This gas exchange process involves oxygen being inhaled into the lungs and carbon dioxide being exhaled as a byproduct of cellular respiration. In cellular respiration, oxygen is used to metabolize glucose and other fuels to produce energy in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), with carbon dioxide resulting as a waste product.
The circulatory system plays a critical role in transporting gases from the lungs to the body's tissues and vice versa, ensuring that oxygen reaches cells for metabolic activities and carbon dioxide is carried back to the lungs for exhalation.