Which element found in the air is critical for cellular respiration?

Oxygen is essential for cellular respiration, a process in which cells convert glucose and oxygen into energy, carbon dioxide, and water. During this biological process, oxygen acts as the final electron acceptor in the electron transport chain, allowing for the efficient production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which cells use for energy. Without adequate oxygen, organisms that rely on aerobic cellular respiration cannot efficiently produce energy, which can lead to serious metabolic issues or cell death.

While other elements such as hydrogen, carbon, and nitrogen play important roles in various biological processes, they do not serve the same critical function in cellular respiration as oxygen does. Carbon is part of the glucose molecule used in respiration, and nitrogen is important for amino acids and nucleic acids, but these elements are not directly involved in the energy production process that relies on oxygen.