AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Cellular respiration is a catabolic process during which glucose is broken down to release usable energy for a cell. As in all catabolic processes, cellular respiration releases energy which can then be harnessed and used by other reactions in the cell.

Detailed explanation-2: -Respiration is considered to be a catabolic reaction because: It involves breaking down complex biomolecular substances such as glucose. The initial breakdown of glucose occurs in the cytoplasm where it is broken down into pyruvate. Then the pyruvate molecules are broken down either aerobically or anaerobically.

Detailed explanation-3: -Photosynthesis, which builds sugars out of smaller molecules, is a “building up, ” or anabolic, pathway. In contrast, cellular respiration breaks sugar down into smaller molecules and is a “breaking down, ” or catabolic, pathway.

Detailed explanation-4: -Cells, therefore, use catabolic processes to generate energy or to fuel anabolic processes (which are energy-dependent). Two key examples of catabolic reactions are digestion and cellular respiration.

Detailed explanation-5: -Respiration involves the breakdown of complex food materials into simpler molecules. Hence it is a catabolic process. It is accompanied by the release of chemical energy (ATP), so it’s an exergonic process also.