What is the process called by which cells produce energy using oxygen and food?

The process through which cells generate energy using oxygen and food is known as cellular respiration. This is a biochemical pathway that occurs in the cells of organisms, where glucose from food is broken down in the presence of oxygen to release energy. The general equation for cellular respiration is as follows: glucose + oxygen → carbon dioxide + water + energy (ATP).

Cellular respiration is crucial because it helps convert the chemical energy stored in food into a form that cells can use for various functions, such as growth, repair, movement, and maintaining homeostasis. It occurs in several stages, primarily in the mitochondria of eukaryotic cells, making it an essential component of cellular metabolism.

In contrast, photosynthesis is the process by which plants and some other organisms convert light energy into chemical energy stored in glucose, while fermentation is an anaerobic process that occurs when oxygen is not present, enabling cells to produce energy through the breakdown of glucose without oxygen. Metabolism encompasses all biochemical reactions in the body, including both cellular respiration and fermentation, but it does not specifically refer to the process of generating energy using oxygen with food.