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Chapter 4: Problem 18

We inhale oxygen when we breathe and exhale carbon dioxide. What is the oxygen used for and where does the carbon dioxide come from?

Short Answer

Expert verified
In summary, we inhale oxygen which is essential for a process called 'cellular respiration' where our body breaks down glucose in the presence of oxygen to generate energy for various life-sustaining functions. Carbon dioxide is produced as a byproduct during this process and is transported back to the lungs and exhaled out of the body when we breathe.

Step by step solution

01

Inhaling Oxygen

When we breathe in, oxygen from the air is inhaled into our lungs. It then diffuses through the walls of the tiny air sacs called 'alveoli' and enters the bloodstream. The oxygen is transported by red blood cells, which are equipped with a protein called hemoglobin. Hemoglobin has a high affinity for oxygen, so it binds to the oxygen molecules and carries them to different parts of the body.
02

Role of Oxygen in the Body

Oxygen is essential for a process called 'cellular respiration'. In cellular respiration, the cells of our body break down glucose (a type of sugar) in the presence of oxygen to generate energy. The energy produced is used for various life-sustaining functions such as muscle movement, cell division, and maintaining body temperature. The process of cellular respiration can be summarized by the following chemical equation: \[C_6H_{12}O_6 + 6O_2 \rightarrow 6CO_2 + 6H_2O + \text{Energy}\]
03

Production of Carbon Dioxide

As we can see from the chemical equation, the breakdown of glucose leads to the production of carbon dioxide (CO2) as a byproduct. The carbon dioxide does not have any useful function in our body and needs to be removed in order to maintain a balanced internal environment.
04

Exhaling Carbon Dioxide

The carbon dioxide generated during cellular respiration gets transported by the bloodstream back to the lungs. Here, it diffuses from the blood into the alveoli and is finally exhaled out of our body when we breathe out. In summary, oxygen is inhaled when we breathe and is used by our body for the vital process of cellular respiration, which generates energy required for various life processes. Carbon dioxide is produced as a byproduct during cellular respiration and is exhaled out of the body when we breathe.

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