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Multiple Choice
We inhale $O_2$ and we exhale $CO_2$. Carbon dioxide is produced __________.
A
during the Krebs cycle in the mitochondria
B
when glucose is absorbed in the small intestine
C
when oxygen is converted to water in the electron transport chain
D
in the cytoplasm during glycolysis
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the context: The question is asking about the process in which carbon dioxide ($CO_2$) is produced during cellular respiration, a key metabolic pathway in biology.
Recall the stages of cellular respiration: Cellular respiration consists of glycolysis (in the cytoplasm), the Krebs cycle (in the mitochondria), and the electron transport chain (in the mitochondria). Each stage has distinct roles and outputs.
Focus on carbon dioxide production: Carbon dioxide ($CO_2$) is a byproduct of the Krebs cycle, also known as the citric acid cycle. This occurs in the mitochondria when pyruvate (produced during glycolysis) is oxidized and decarboxylated, releasing $CO_2$.
Eliminate incorrect options: Glycolysis occurs in the cytoplasm and does not produce $CO_2$. The electron transport chain involves the conversion of oxygen ($O_2$) to water ($H_2O$), not $CO_2$. Glucose absorption in the small intestine is unrelated to $CO_2$ production.
Conclude: The correct answer is that carbon dioxide ($CO_2$) is produced during the Krebs cycle in the mitochondria, as this is the stage where decarboxylation reactions release $CO_2$ as a waste product.