The overall (unbalanced) chemical equation for cellular respiration is:
##”C”_6″H”_12″O”_6 + “O”_2 → “CO”_2 + “H”_2″O” + “energy”##
The balanced equation is
##”C”_6″H”_12″O”_6 + “6O”_2 → “6CO”_2 + “6H”_2″O” + “energy”##
The equation expressed in words would be:
##”glucose + oxygen → carbon dioxide + water + energy”##
The equation is formulated by combining the three following processes into one equation:
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Glycolysis — the breakdown of the form of a glucose molecule into two three-carbon molecules i.e. pyruvate (pyruvic acid).
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The Tricarboxylic Acid Cycle or Krebs Cycle — the three-carbon pieces are pulled apart bit by bit to release the energy stored in those covalent bonds. This is where most of the ##”CO”_2## is formed.
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The Electron Transport Chain and Oxidative Phosphorylation — this sequence requires the ##”O”_2## and produces most of the energy. This energy comes in the form of ##”ATP”##, or adenine triphosphate.
