Final answer:
Glucose is oxidized to CO₂ and H₂O during aerobic respiration, and the process yields around 36 to 38 ATP molecules. The correct option is 1).
Step-by-step explanation:
During aerobic respiration, glucose is oxidized to form carbon dioxide (CO₂) and water (H₂O). Aerobic respiration occurs in four main stages: glycolysis, pyruvate oxidation, the citric acid cycle, and oxidative phosphorylation.
By the end of these stages, the original glucose molecule has been completely broken down into CO₂ and H₂O, releasing energy that is captured in the form of ATP. Specifically, glycolysis nets 2 ATP molecules, and the citric acid cycle contributes another 2 ATP molecules directly.
The majority of ATP, however, is produced during oxidative phosphorylation, where the NADH and FADH₂ created in the earlier stages are used to generate a significant amount of ATP.
The total number of ATPs produced when one molecule of glucose is completely oxidized to CO₂ and H₂O is around 36 to 38, depending on the efficiency of the electron transport chain. Option 1) is the correct one.