Which process is responsible for converting glucose into energy?

The process responsible for converting glucose into energy is respiration. This biochemical process occurs in cells and involves breaking down glucose in the presence of oxygen to produce energy in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). The overall equation for cellular respiration can be summarized as glucose and oxygen being converted into carbon dioxide, water, and energy.

Respiration is crucial for all living organisms as it provides the energy necessary for various metabolic activities, growth, and maintenance of cellular functions. While fermentation, another process listed, does also convert glucose into energy, it does so without the presence of oxygen and results in byproducts such as alcohol or lactic acid rather than optimizing energy yield.

Photosynthesis, though related to glucose production, takes place in plants and involves converting light energy into chemical energy stored in glucose rather than breaking it down for energy. Evaporation is a physical process related to the transition of water from a liquid state to a gas and does not play a role in energy conversion from glucose. Hence, respiration is the primary process that directly converts glucose into energy used by the cells.