What is the term for respiration that requires oxygen, involving the oxidation of glucose to carbon dioxide and water?

The term that describes respiration requiring oxygen, which involves the oxidation of glucose to produce carbon dioxide and water, is aerobic respiration. This process occurs in the mitochondria of cells and involves a series of metabolic pathways that lead to the complete breakdown of glucose in the presence of oxygen.

During aerobic respiration, glucose is fully oxidized, releasing energy that is harnessed to produce ATP (adenosine triphosphate), the energy currency of the cell. The overall reaction can be summarized as glucose (C6H12O6) being converted into carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O), with the release of energy.

In contrast, anaerobic respiration and fermentation occur in the absence of oxygen and produce energy through different pathways, typically leading to less efficient energy yield and the production of by-products like lactic acid or ethanol. Photosynthesis, on the other hand, is the process by which plants convert light energy into chemical energy, utilizing carbon dioxide and water to produce glucose and oxygen, and is not a form of respiration. Thus, the defining features of aerobic respiration align perfectly with the description given in the question.