Cellular waste product

Cellular waste products are formed as a byproduct of cellular respiration, a series of processes and reactions that generate energy for the cell, in the form of ATP. Two examples of cellular respiration creating cellular waste products are aerobic respiration and anaerobic respiration.

Aerobic respiration
When in the presence of oxygen, cells use aerobic respiration to obtain energy from glucose molecules.

Simplified Theoretical Reaction: C6H12O6 (aq) + 6O2 (g) → 6CO2 (g) + 6H2O(l)    ΔHc -2880KJ

In aerobic respiration, the cellular waste products are:
 * carbon dioxide (CO2)
 * water (H2O)

Anaerobic respiration
When oxygen is not available, a cell must undergo anaerobic respiration to generate energy. Fermentation is an example of anaerobic respiration.

Simplified Theoretical Reaction: C6H12O6 $$\to$$ 2C3H6O3 + 2 ATP (120 kJ)

In anaerobic respiration, the cellular waste product is:
 * Lactic acid (C3H6O3)