The citric acid cycle - also known as the tricarboxylic acid cycle ( TCA cycle ) , or the Krebs cycle , - is a series of chemical reactions used by all aerobic organisms to generate energy through the oxidation of acetate derived from carbohydrates , fats and proteins into carbon dioxide and chemical energy in the form of adenosine triphosphate ( ATP ) .
Named after Hans Krebs , it is a series of chemical reactions used by all aerobic organisms to generate energy .