The advantage to the cell of the gradual oxidation of glucose during cellular respiration compared with its combustion to CO₂ and H₂O in a single step is that

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The gradual oxidation of glucose during cellular respiration allows for the extraction of energy in usable amounts, allowing the cell to use the energy to perform its functions. Combusting glucose to CO₂ and H₂O in a single step would likely result in the loss of energy as heat and the production of more CO₂, but this would not necessarily be useful to the cell. Therefore, the advantage to the cell is that it can extract a usable form of energy through gradual oxidation.

The Advantage to the Cell of the Gradual Oxidation of Glucose