Aerobic Respiration Equation

The process of breaking down of a glucose molecules to release energy in the presence of oxygen is known as aerobic respiration. On the other hand, respiration which takes place in the absence of oxygen is known as anaerobic respiration. The energy released in the process is used by the organism for growth, repair, movements, etc. Prokaryotes have their energy generation organ on the cell membrane and in eukaryotes, it is present in the inner membranes of the mitochondrial cell.

Aerobic cellular respiration equation shows the reaction between a glucose molecule and oxygen which results in the formation of carbon-dioxide, water and energy. This energy is in the form of ATP. The equation can be represented as,

Glucose + Oxygen → Carbon dioxide + Water + Energy 

So, the aerobic respiration chemical equation will be 

C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂ → 6CO₂ + 6H₂O + Energy (ATP molecules)

Aerobic respiration takes three steps to release energy and complete the process. In the following steps glycolysis process takes place in the cytoplasm of the cell whereas Krebs cycle and electron transport chain process are completed in the mitochondria of the cell.

First step of aerobic respiration is glycolysis. It can also take place in the absence of oxygen and is present in almost all the living organisms. The chemical reaction in glycolysis can be explained as follows:

C₆H₁₂O₆ + 2NAD⁺ → 2C₃H₄O₃ + 2NADH + 2ATP

Here, C₃H₄O₃ is pyruvic acid.

The pyruvic acid formed in the glycolysis enters the Krebs cycle and breaks down to form ATP molecules. It is also known as citric acid cycle. The product formed in the Krebs cycle is acetal CoA which forms citric acid and further takes it to the formation of two molecules of carbon-dioxide.

This process takes place only in the presence of oxygen. The process can be explained by the following equation.

Acetyl CoA + 3NAD + FAD + ADP + HPO₄^-2 → 2CO₂ + CoA + 3NADH⁺ + FADH⁺

This step of aerobic respiration is responsible for the conversion of more ADP molecules into ATP molecules. The proteins present in the mitochondria are involved in oxidative phosphorylation process which breaks the nutrients into energy.

The reaction taking place in electron transport chain can be summarized as follows.

2NADH + 2H⁺ + O₂ → 2NAD⁺ + 2H₂O

These were the steps which are involved in the aerobic respiration equation. ATP or the energy released in this process may vary from 36 to 38 ATPs. So, by this you can understand how we are able to sustain as a living being.