Question

36. Compare the energy yields from the oxidative metabolism of glucose and of stearic acid. Calculate the energy yield on the basis of ATP yield per carbon. Which gives a higher yield of ATP per carbon? Show your work.

Answer 1

Respiration occurs within the cells of plants and animals, normally generating 38 ATP molecules (as energy) from the oxidation of 1 molecule of glucose.In a eukaryotic cell, the process of cellular respiration can metabolize one molecule of glucose into 30 to 32 ATP.So from 96 ATP's are produced from 18 atoms of carbon thus ATP/carbon is 96/18 = 5.33

A stearic acid molecule (also 18C's) produces 120 ATP's.So ATP per carbon is 120/18 =6.667

So it is seen that ATP production per atomof carbon is greater in stearic acid than glucose .

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