What is a common waste product produced from metabolism?

Carbon dioxide is a common waste product produced from metabolism, specifically during the process of cellular respiration. In this process, cells convert glucose and oxygen into energy, primarily in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). During the breakdown of glucose, carbon dioxide is produced as an aerobic respiration byproduct. This waste product is then transported from the cells to the lungs, where it is exhaled.

Understanding the metabolic process helps clarify why carbon dioxide is referred to as a waste product. As the body utilizes oxygen to produce energy, carbon dioxide accumulates and must be removed to maintain the body's acid-base balance and overall homeostasis. In contrast, other options such as oxygen and glucose are essential substrates for metabolic processes rather than waste products, and warmth is a byproduct of the energy-producing reactions but not classified as a waste product in the same sense as carbon dioxide.