What is the total net yield of ATP from cellular respiration?

The total net yield of ATP from cellular respiration is generally considered to be 36 ATP molecules, which corresponds with the answer provided. Cellular respiration consists of three main stages: glycolysis, the Krebs cycle (or citric acid cycle), and oxidative phosphorylation (or the electron transport chain).

During glycolysis, which occurs in the cytoplasm, a net gain of 2 ATP molecules is produced from the conversion of glucose to pyruvate, along with a few NADH molecules that will later contribute to ATP production in the electron transport chain.

Next, the Krebs cycle occurs in the mitochondria, where the Acetyl CoA derived from pyruvate is processed. Each turn of the cycle generates additional NADH and FADH2, which are crucial for the next step of the respiration process. For each glucose molecule, two molecules of Acetyl CoA are produced, leading to multiple turns of the Krebs cycle and the generation of additional NADH and FADH2.

Finally, in oxidative phosphorylation, the energy carried by the NADH and FADH2 is used to produce ATP. This stage has the potential to generate the highest yield of ATP, often estimated to be around 28 to 34 ATP molecules, depending