What is a major byproduct of aerobic cellular respiration?

The major byproduct of aerobic cellular respiration is carbon dioxide. This process, which occurs in the presence of oxygen, involves breaking down glucose to produce energy. During the breakdown of glucose, carbon atoms are released in the form of carbon dioxide as a waste product.

As glucose is metabolized, it undergoes a series of chemical reactions in the mitochondria of cells, which results in the conversion of glucose and oxygen into energy, carbon dioxide, and water. The energy produced is primarily stored in the form of ATP (adenosine triphosphate), which is not classified as a byproduct but rather as the main objective of the respiration process.

On the other hand, oxygen is utilized in cellular respiration rather than produced as a byproduct, while glucose is the initial substrate that serves as the fuel for the process. Therefore, while energy is the desired output and glucose is the reactant, carbon dioxide stands out as the significant byproduct that must be expelled from the cell into the external environment.