What are the reactants of the chemical reaction that releases energy from food?
1 answer
The reactants of the chemical reaction that releases energy from food are glucose (C6H12O6) and oxygen (O2). This process, known as cellular respiration, occurs within the mitochondria of cells and involves the breakdown of glucose molecules into carbon dioxide (CO2), water (H2O), and ATP (adenosine triphosphate), which is the energy currency of the cell. The overall chemical equation for cellular respiration can be represented as: C6H12O6 + 6O2 → 6CO2 + 6H2O + ATP.