Final answer:
During cellular respiration, food is broken down in the mitochondria of cells. It involves four phases: glycolysis, transition reaction, Krebs cycle, and oxidative phosphorylation. ATP is produced and carbon dioxide is released as a waste product.
Step-by-step explanation:
During cellular respiration, food is broken down in the mitochondria of cells. The process takes place in four phases: glycolysis, the transition reaction, the Krebs cycle, and oxidative phosphorylation. In glycolysis, glucose is broken down into two molecules of pyruvate. The transition reaction converts pyruvate into acetyl-CoA, which enters the Krebs cycle. The Krebs cycle produces ATP and releases carbon dioxide as a waste product. Finally, oxidative phosphorylation occurs in the mitochondria, where ATP is generated through the electron transport chain.