Which of the following represents the equation for cellular respiration?

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The correct equation for cellular respiration is represented by the combination of glucose and oxygen to produce carbon dioxide and water. In cellular respiration, glucose serves as the primary energy source, and oxygen is essential for the process as it helps in the complete breakdown of glucose. The end products, carbon dioxide and water, are byproducts of the energy-generating metabolic pathways.

The process occurs in several stages, primarily involving glycolysis, the citric acid cycle, and the electron transport chain, where energy is released from glucose. This energy is stored in the form of ATP (adenosine triphosphate) which cells use for various functions.

The other options do not accurately depict the process of cellular respiration. For instance, the first option incorrectly indicates that carbon dioxide is a reactant and that oxygen is produced, which reverses the actual flow of the process. The last two options misrepresent the reactants and products, suggesting pathways that are not representative of cellular respiration, like the formation of glucose from carbon dioxide and energy. Thus, the accurate representation of cellular respiration is correctly identified as the one that describes the utilization of glucose and oxygen leading to the release of carbon dioxide and water.

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