15. The food we eat is degraded, or broken down, in our bodies to provide energy for growth and function A general overall equation for this very complex process represents the degradation of glucose (C_(6)H_(12)O_(6)) to carbon dioxide (CO_(2)) and water (H_(2)O) underline ( )C_(6)H_(12)O_(6) +underline ( )O_(2) arrow underline ( )CO_(2) +underline ( )H_(2)O

The question is asking for the balanced chemical equation for the degradation of glucose (C6H12O6) to carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O). This process is known as cellular respiration, which is a set of metabolic reactions and processes that take place in the cells of organisms to convert biochemical energy from nutrients into adenosine triphosphate (ATP), and then release waste products. The reactions involved in respiration are catabolic reactions, which break down large molecules into smaller ones, releasing energy in the process. This process is essential for the production of energy in the form of ATP, which is used by the cell to perform various functions. The balanced chemical equation for this process is:<br /><br />C6H12O6 + 6O2 → 6CO2 + 6H2O<br /><br />This equation shows that one molecule of glucose (C6H12O6) and six molecules of oxygen (O2) are converted into six molecules of carbon dioxide (CO2) and six molecules of water (H2O), releasing energy in the process.