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Multiple Choice
Which of the following substances is the primary fuel for muscles and other cells during cellular respiration?
A
Oxygen
B
Glucose
C
Lactic acid
D
Carbon dioxide
Verified step by step guidance
1
Step 1: Understand the process of cellular respiration. Cellular respiration is the process by which cells convert biochemical energy from nutrients into ATP (adenosine triphosphate), the energy currency of the cell, while releasing waste products like carbon dioxide and water.
Step 2: Identify the primary fuel used in cellular respiration. The main molecule that serves as the primary fuel for cellular respiration is glucose (C₆H₁₂O₆). Glucose is broken down during glycolysis, the first step of cellular respiration, to produce energy.
Step 3: Eliminate incorrect options. Oxygen is not a fuel but a reactant used in the later stages of cellular respiration (electron transport chain). Lactic acid is a byproduct of anaerobic respiration, not a primary fuel. Carbon dioxide is a waste product of cellular respiration, not a fuel.
Step 4: Recall the role of glucose in energy production. Glucose undergoes glycolysis, the citric acid cycle, and oxidative phosphorylation to produce ATP, which powers cellular activities.
Step 5: Conclude that glucose is the correct answer as it is the primary fuel for muscles and other cells during cellular respiration.