A student claims that cellular respiration is essential to cells so that they have a means for getting rid of excess carbon dioxide. What is wrong with his statement?

The correct answer is "Cellular respiration does not consume carbon dioxide".

Cellular respiration refers to the set of chemical reactions by which cell harnessed energy from nutrients and convert it to ATP (also called as energy currency of the cell).

It is essential for the cell as it generates ATP which is used in all the processes such as DNA replication, repair, etc.

Cellular respiration uses oxygen and releases carbon dioxide as a waste product.

Oxygen is provided by air we inhaled and carbon dioxide is released as a part of exhaled air.

The general equation of cellular respiration can be written as:

C_{6}H_{12}O_{6} + 6O_{2}C

6

H

12

O

6

+6O

2

→ 6CO_{2} + 6H_{2}O + ATP6CO

2

+6H

2

O+ATP