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Multiple Choice
What is the balanced chemical equation for cellular respiration?
A
C6H12O6 + 6CO2 → 6O2 + 6H2O + energy
B
C6H12O6 + 6H2O → 6CO2 + 6O2 + energy
C
C6H12O6 + 6O2 → 6CO2 + 12H2O + energy
D
C6H12O6 + 6O2 → 6CO2 + 6H2O + energy
Verified step by step guidance
1
Identify the reactants and products involved in cellular respiration. The main reactants are glucose (C₆H₁₂O₆) and oxygen (O₂), and the products are carbon dioxide (CO₂), water (H₂O), and energy.
Write the unbalanced chemical equation for the process: C₆H₁₂O₆ + O₂ → CO₂ + H₂O + energy.
Balance the carbon atoms first. Glucose contains 6 carbon atoms, so you need 6 CO₂ molecules on the product side: C₆H₁₂O₆ + O₂ → 6CO₂ + H₂O + energy.
Next, balance the hydrogen atoms. Glucose has 12 hydrogen atoms, so you need 6 H₂O molecules on the product side to balance the hydrogen: C₆H₁₂O₆ + O₂ → 6CO₂ + 6H₂O + energy.
Finally, balance the oxygen atoms. There are 18 oxygen atoms on the product side (6 from CO₂ and 6 from H₂O), so you need 6 O₂ molecules on the reactant side: C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂ → 6CO₂ + 6H₂O + energy.