Final answer:
The ultimate oxidation of carbohydrates during cellular respiration leads to the generation of carbon dioxide and water, extracting energy from the glucose molecule through various stages, namely glycolysis, the citric acid cycle, and oxidative phosphorylation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The ultimate oxidation of carbohydrates in cellular respiration results in the conversion of the energy within a carbohydrate molecule into carbon dioxide (CO₂) and water (H₂O). This involves multiple steps including glycolysis, the transition reaction, the citric acid cycle, and oxidative phosphorylation. During glycolysis, glucose is broken down into pyruvate, producing ATP and NADH. The pyruvate is then decarboxylated into acetyl CoA, which enters the citric acid cycle (also known as the Krebs cycle or TCA cycle). Here, the rest of the energy from the glucose molecule is extracted as more CO₂ is released and additional NADH and FADH₂ molecules are generated. Lastly, these molecules provide electrons for the electron transport chain, leading to a large production of ATP.