Final answer:
The majority of ATP during cellular respiration is produced in the electron transport chain (ETC), generating approximately 34 of the total 38 ATP molecules per glucose molecule.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Majority of ATP Formation in Cellular Respiration Determining during which of the phases of cellular respiration is the majority of ATP formed involves understanding the various stages of the process. Glycolysis results in the production of 2 ATP molecules. Pyruvate's conversion into acetyl CoA links glycolysis and the TCA cycle, but does not itself produce ATP. The TCA cycle produces another 2 ATP. However, these initial phases generate relatively small amounts of ATP compared to the electron transport chain (ETC), which is responsible for the bulk of ATP production during cellular respiration.
The ETC capitalizes on high-energy electrons from NADH and FADH2 generated in earlier stages. As electrons move down the electron transport chain, they lose energy which is utilized in chemiosmosis to synthesize ATP, a process known as oxidative phosphorylation. Most of the body's ATP, approximately 34 of the maximum of around 38 ATP molecules created from one glucose molecule, is produced during this stage.
In summary, while glycolysis, the transformation of pyruvate to acetyl CoA, and the TCA cycle all contribute to the build-up of carriers for the ETC, it is the electron transport chain that stands out as the phase where the majority of ATP is formed in cellular respiration.