What molecule are broken down during cellular respiration to release energy?

Answer 1

Energy sources (long term energy storages) are broken down! Typically when learning about cellular respiration, glucose is used as an example because it is the most convenient source for cellular respiration.

However, other sources such as proteins and fats (they insert themselves into glycolysis or the transition step or the Krebs cycle when able) are also broken down. Before they can be broken down, both of these molecules must be broken into their monomers (amino acids for proteins) or smaller molecules (glycerol and fatty acids for fats) and modified.

Even if glucose is used as the energy source, polysaccharides like starch in plants and glycogen in humans must be broken down into smaller subunits until it gets to its monomer - glucose.

Oxygen could also be considered to be broken down. Molecular oxygen (O2) is split after receiving the low-energy electrons from the electron transport chain to produce 2 water molecules.

Short term energy sources like ATP and NADH are also broken down, but the profit of ATP and NADH from cellular respiration greatly outweigh the losses.

Answer 2

In the first part of cellular respiration which occurs in both anaerobic and aerobic environments glucose is broken down into two molecules of pyruvate. the NET equation is: glucose + 2 ADP + 2 Pi --> 2 pyruvate + 2 ATP + 2 H20 + 2 Hplus

Answer 3

Glucose is broken down into pyruvate, then acetylCoA, and then down even further into water, energy, and carbon dioxide. Everything else that is broken down (NADH, ATP...) is recycled.

Answer 4

glucose.

it is broken down to form ATP, which is usable energy.

Answer 5

Glucose is broken down during cellular respiration.

Answer 6

Glucose.

Answer 7

Glucose!

Answer 8

Glucose