Cells require chemical energy for three general types of tasks: to drive metabolic processes that would not occur automatically, to transport substances across membranes, and to do mechanical work, such as moving muscles. Organisms generate chemical energy via cellular respiration. Analyze the illustration of cellular respiration and select the one piece that is NOT critical to the production of cellular energy.

Question

Cells require chemical energy for three general types of tasks: to drive metabolic processes that would not occur automatically, to transport substances across membranes, and to do mechanical work, such as moving muscles. Organisms generate chemical energy via cellular respiration. Analyze the illustration of cellular respiration and select the one piece that is NOT critical to the production of cellular energy.
Responses
A	foodfood
B	oxygenoxygen
C	ATP moleculesATP molecules
D	carbon dioxide

GPT-4o mini · Answer

In the context of cellular respiration, the one piece that is NOT critical to the production of cellular energy is:

D. carbon dioxide

Carbon dioxide is a byproduct of cellular respiration, but it is not required for the process to produce energy. In contrast, food (as a source of glucose), oxygen (which is necessary for aerobic respiration), and ATP molecules (the energy currency produced) are all critical components in the production of cellular energy.