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Briefly explain cellular respiration and one common misconception about it.

# Cellular Respiration **Basic Process:** Cellular respiration is how cells convert glucose and oxygen into usable energy (ATP), producing carbon dioxide and water as byproducts. It occurs in three main stages: glycolysis (cytoplasm), the Krebs cycle (mitochondrial matrix), and the electron transport chain (inner mitochondrial membrane). The overall equation is: C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂ → 6CO₂ + 6H₂O + ATP ## Common Misconception **"We breathe in oxygen and breathe out carbon dioxide through cellular respiration"** While related, breathing (respiration) and cellular respiration are different processes. Breathing is the physical exchange of gases in the lungs, while cellular respiration is the chemical process happening inside cells throughout your body. The oxygen you inhale is delivered to cells via blood, where cellular respiration actually occurs. The CO₂ produced by cells is then transported back to the lungs to be exhaled. People often conflate these two processes because they use similar terminology and are functionally connected.