What is the balanced chemical equation for cellular respiration?

• A. 6CO2 + 6H2O → C6H12O6 + 6O2 + energy
• B. C6H12O6 + 6CO2 → 6O2 + 6H2O + energy
• C. C6H12O6 + 6O2 → 6CO2 + 6H2O + energy
• D. C6H12O6 + 6H2O → 6CO2 + 6O2 + energy

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the reactants and products in the process of cellular respiration. The main reactants are glucose (C6H12O6) and oxygen (O2), and the main products are carbon dioxide (CO2), water (H2O), and energy.
2. Write the unbalanced chemical equation for cellular respiration: C6H12O6 + O2 → CO2 + H2O + energy.
3. Balance the carbon atoms first. There are 6 carbon atoms in glucose (C6H12O6), so you need 6 CO2 molecules on the product side: C6H12O6 + O2 → 6CO2 + H2O + energy.
4. Next, balance the hydrogen atoms. There are 12 hydrogen atoms in glucose, so you need 6 H2O molecules on the product side: C6H12O6 + O2 → 6CO2 + 6H2O + energy.
5. Finally, balance the oxygen atoms. There are 18 oxygen atoms on the product side (12 from 6CO2 and 6 from 6H2O), so you need 6 O2 molecules on the reactant side: C6H12O6 + 6O2 → 6CO2 + 6H2O + energy.