Final answer:
The breakdown of glucose into carbon dioxide, water, and ATP is an example of a catabolic pathway, which is involved in breaking down molecules for energy. This process includes several steps, starting with glycolysis, then pyruvate oxidation and the citric acid cycle, and ultimately a large amount of ATP is generated via oxidative phosphorylation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The breakdown of glucose into carbon dioxide, water, and ATP is an example of a catabolic pathway. Catabolic pathways are involved in the breakdown of nutrient molecules into smaller units which can be utilized for energy. In contrast, anabolic pathways are involved in building larger molecules from smaller ones and require the input of energy.
When glucose is metabolized, it goes through several pathways, with glycolysis being the initial step. Glycolysis occurs in the cytosol of cells and breaks down glucose into two molecules of pyruvate, generating a small amount of ATP in the process. Next, pyruvate oxidation and the citric acid cycle further process the breakdown products. However, the bulk of ATP is produced not from these early steps directly but from oxidative phosphorylation incorporating both electron transport and chemiosmosis. This process harnesses energy stored in the electrons of nutrient molecules and generates a large amount of ATP.