Cellular respiration is a metabolic process that occurs in the cells of organisms. During this process, glucose is broken down with the use of oxygen to produce energy, which is stored in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). The overall chemical equation for cellular respiration can be written as follows:
[tex]\[
C_6H_{12}O_6 + 6O_2 \rightarrow 6CO_2 + 6H_2O + \text{energy (ATP)}
\][/tex]
Breaking down the equation, we can see that glucose (C_6H_{12}O_6) and oxygen (O_2) are the reactants. The products of this reaction are carbon dioxide (CO_2), water (H_2O), and energy (ATP).
Given the multiple choice options:
A. [tex]\(CO_2\)[/tex]
B. [tex]\(N_2O\)[/tex]
C. [tex]\(O_2\)[/tex]
D. [tex]\(N_2\)[/tex]
From the equation and understanding of cellular respiration, the gas product that is released during this process is carbon dioxide ([tex]\(CO_2\)[/tex]).
Let's analyze the roles of other options to confirm:
- [tex]\(N_2O\)[/tex] (nitrous oxide) is not involved in cellular respiration.
- [tex]\(O_2\)[/tex] (oxygen) is a reactant, not a product.
- [tex]\(N_2\)[/tex] (nitrogen) is not involved in cellular respiration.
Hence, the gas product of cellular respiration is option A, [tex]\(CO_2\)[/tex].
Therefore, the correct answer is:
A. [tex]\(CO_2\)[/tex]
