Aerobic respiration is a biological process in which cells convert glucose and oxygen into energy. This process occurs in the mitochondria of cells and produces adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which is the energy currency of the cell. The overall equation for aerobic respiration can be summarized as glucose + oxygen → carbon dioxide + water + energy. During aerobic respiration, glucose is broken down in a series of chemical reactions. These reactions include glycolysis, the Krebs cycle, and the electron transport chain. The presence of oxygen is crucial, as it helps to efficiently release energy, making aerobic respiration more effective than anaerobic respiration, which occurs without oxygen.