Question 38

Carbon dioxide is a waste product of cellular respiration.

During cellular respiration, glucose is broken down to produce energy, and one of the byproducts of this process is carbon dioxide, which is expelled from the cell and ultimately exhaled.

A) Sucrose

Sucrose is a type of sugar that serves as an energy source in plants and is not a byproduct of cellular respiration. Instead, it is a substrate that can be broken down during respiration to produce energy.

B) Oxygen

Oxygen is not a waste product of cellular respiration; rather, it is a crucial reactant that is used in the process to help convert glucose into energy. The consumption of oxygen is essential for aerobic respiration.

C) Glucose

Glucose is the primary fuel molecule used in cellular respiration, not a waste product. It is metabolized to release energy, and thus it is consumed, not produced as a byproduct.

D) Carbon dioxide

Carbon dioxide is indeed a waste product of cellular respiration. It is produced when glucose is oxidized for energy, thus making it essential to recognize its role as a byproduct that must be expelled from the organism.

Conclusion

Carbon dioxide is definitively the correct answer as it is the primary waste product generated during cellular respiration. In contrast, sucrose, oxygen, and glucose play roles as substrates or reactants in the process, failing to meet the criteria for waste products. This distinction highlights the efficiency of cellular respiration in energy production and waste management.