Which formula represents the process for heterotrophs obtaining energy?

Heterotrophs obtain energy through a process called cellular respiration, which involves breaking down glucose in the presence of oxygen to release energy. The correct formula represents this process accurately: oxygen and glucose are used to produce carbon dioxide, water, and energy.

In this reaction, glucose serves as the primary energy source that heterotrophs derive from consuming plants or other organisms. The breakdown of glucose releases stored chemical energy, which is essential for the metabolic processes of the organism. Carbon dioxide and water are byproducts of this process.

The other options represent different processes. For instance, one option suggests that carbon dioxide, water, and energy convert into glucose, which describes photosynthesis—primarily an anabolic process carried out by autotrophs, not heterotrophs. Another option indicates a process opposite to cellular respiration, which is not applicable for heterotrophs. Understanding this distinction is key in recognizing how heterotrophs function in the energy cycle of ecosystems.