Video Transcript
While excluding energy/ATP, state
the correct and balanced chemical, symbol, equation for aerobic respiration.
Cellular respiration is the process
of converting energy in glucose to ATP to provide energy for our cells. There are two types of cellular
respiration, aerobic and anaerobic. Aerobic respiration requires the
use of oxygen, while anaerobic does not. In aerobic respiration, glucose is
combined with oxygen to make carbon dioxide, water, and energy in the form of
ATP.
The equation shown here is a word
equation. Let’s add the chemical symbols for
each of these molecules and balance it to answer this question. The chemical formula for glucose is
given by C6H12O6. Oxygen is given by O2. Carbon dioxide is given by CO2. And the chemical formula for water
is given by H2O. First, we’ll balance the carbons in
carbon dioxide to equal the six carbons in glucose. Then, we’ll balance water to match
the 12 hydrogens in glucose. This leaves us with 18 oxygens on
the products side. So we’ll balance the oxygen on the
reactants side to match this while accounting for the six oxygens in glucose.
So the correct and balanced
equation for aerobic respiration is one molecule of glucose plus six molecules of
oxygen produces six molecules of carbon dioxide plus six molecules of water.
