What does cellular respiration produce?

Cellular respiration is a biochemical process that occurs in the cells of organisms to convert biochemical energy from nutrients into adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which serves as the energy currency of the cell. During this process, glucose is typically broken down in the presence of oxygen, leading to the release of energy that is then captured in the form of ATP. This ATP can be used for various cellular functions, including muscle contraction, cell division, and other metabolic processes that require energy.

While carbon dioxide and oxygen are byproducts and reactants of this process—carbon dioxide being a waste product released during the Krebs cycle, and oxygen being consumed during the electron transport chain—the primary goal of cellular respiration is the production of ATP. Therefore, ATP is the direct answer to what cellular respiration produces, highlighting its crucial role in energy transfer within the cell.