Why is cellular respiration important? Multiple Choice It produces oxygen gas, which is essential to cell functions. It breaks down carbon dioxide, which is toxic to cells. It generates ATP, which cells can use to do work. It generates chemical gradients, which have potential energy.

(c) It generates ATP, which cells can use to do work.

(d) It generates chemical gradients, which have potential energy.

Explanation:

The overall process of Cellular respiration is the aerobic break down of organic compounds (food) with the release of CO2, water and energy in form of ATP which drives most cellular work.

Organic compound + oxygen > carbon dioxide + water + energy (ATP + heat)

In cellular respiration during the break down of food in glycolysis and the citric acid cycle, chemical energy (NADH and FADH) are extracted from each cellular process and transported to the electron transport chain built in the inner mitochondrial membrane. The chemical energy harvested from food is transformed into a proton-motive force, a gradient of H+ across the membrane. When this H+ election fall from their gradient via ATP synthase, Chemiosmosis couples this proton motive force to phosphorylate ADP to form ATP.