Remember the law of conservation of matter. The human body uses cellular respiration to release energy from food. Recall the reactants and products of the process of cellular respiration. Using the chemical equation for cellular respiration, explain how the amounts of oxygen and carbon dioxide inhaled by the lungs is different from the amounts exhaled. Explain your answer in 1-2 sentences.

Answer 1

Cellular respiration can be summarized by the equation: \[ \text{C}6\text{H}{12}\text{O}_6 + 6\text{O}_2 \rightarrow 6\text{CO}_2 + 6\text{H}_2\text{O} + \text{energy} \]. During this process, glucose and oxygen are consumed, while carbon dioxide and water are produced; therefore, the amount of oxygen inhaled is used in cellular respiration and converted into carbon dioxide alongside the glucose consumed, leading to a greater volume of carbon dioxide exhaled compared to the oxygen inhaled.