14. What is the primary purpose of cellular respiration? a. To use sunlight to produse food molecules b. To release energy from food molecules c. To remove carbon dioxide from an organism d. To bring oxygen into an organism

The primary purpose of cellular respiration is to release energy from food molecules.

Explanation:

All organisms obtain the energy for their functioning, from the food they consume. Cells in the body of the organisms produce this energy by converting the energy stored in the food nutrients into a more usable form called adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which will release energy when the need arise. This process is known as cellular respiration. Some prokaryotic organisms use anaerobic respiration (oxygen not required), while others use aerobic respiration (oxygen-requiring) for energy production. In aerobic respiration, ATP is produced by the breaking down of glucose and oxygen into carbon dioxide and water. Mitochondria in the eukaryotic cells are responsible for this process, so they are called the powerhouses of the cell.