What defines aerobic respiration?

Aerobic respiration is characterized as a chemical breakdown process in the presence of oxygen, which results in the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the primary energy currency of cells. During aerobic respiration, glucose and other substrates are oxidized, and oxygen acts as the final electron acceptor in the electron transport chain, leading to the efficient production of ATP along with water and carbon dioxide as byproducts. This process is vital for many organisms that rely on oxygen for energy production, as it allows them to generate much more ATP compared to anaerobic processes.

Other options, while related to cellular respiration, do not accurately describe aerobic respiration: anaerobic conditions refer to processes occurring without oxygen; production of lactic acid typically occurs during anaerobic respiration; and carbon dioxide is a waste product rather than a reactant in the process.