Why do we exhale additional carbon dioxide when we exercise compared to when we are just resting?
The body takes in extra Oxygen when our body is put to work. Furthermore, our metabolism increases which results in extra consumption of energy. Energy (ATP) can only be created if oxygen is present, as we know in Oxidative phosphorlayion. Extra oxygen will result in more ATP, but what do we do with all that Oxygen that is being converted. Carbon dioxide is a by product, and the more oxygen we have the more ATP is created and ultimately the more about of CO2 is going to be exhaled. Since when a person is resting, ATP consumption is not high which is why we exhale less CO2 when our body is in a state of rest.
