Which statement correctly describes the products of cellular metabolism?

Which statement correctly describes the products of cellular metabolism?

• A. It yields ATP and heat, but not CO2 or water.
• B. It yields only water and CO2.
• C. It yields ATP, heat, and CO2.
• D. It yields ATP, heat, water, and CO2.

Answer: (D)

When nutrients are broken down for energy, the cell captures much of that energy as ATP, while some is released as heat. At the same time, the oxidation of substrates generates metabolic byproducts: water and carbon dioxide. So the full set of products from cellular metabolism includes ATP, heat, water, and CO2. The other options miss either ATP, water, or CO2, which is why they don’t fully describe the outcome of cellular metabolism.

When nutrients are broken down for energy, the cell captures much of that energy as ATP, while some is released as heat. At the same time, the oxidation of substrates generates metabolic byproducts: water and carbon dioxide. So the full set of products from cellular metabolism includes ATP, heat, water, and CO2. The other options miss either ATP, water, or CO2, which is why they don’t fully describe the outcome of cellular metabolism.