ATP? Chemical equations for respiration in full?

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AskScience: Got Questions? Get Answers.@zerobytes.monster · 27 days ago

The original post: /r/askscience by /u/FrostMonochrome on 2025-03-07 06:10:02.

So, in school we learn C6H12O6 + 6O2 -> 6CO2 + 6H2O + ATP

And C6H12O6 -> Lactic acid + energy

C6H12O6 -> Ethanol + energy

But if ATP is C10H16N5O13P3, how does that equation balance? Where are the Nitrogen and Phosphorus coming from? How come we never see anaerobic respiration written out in a full chemical equation with Ethanol as C2H6O or Lactic Acid as C3H6O3, and if we did what would that be?

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