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Ch.3 Matter and Energy
Timberlake - Chemistry: An Introduction to General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry 14th Edition
Timberlake14thChemistry: An Introduction to General, Organic, and Biological ChemistryISBN: 9781292472249Not the one you use?Change textbook
Chapter 3, Problem 39d

Using the energy values for foods (see Table 3.8), determine each of the following (round off the answer for each food type to the tens place): d. the grams of fat in one avocado that has 410 kcal, 13 g of carbohydrate, and 5 g of protein

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1
Step 1: Recall the energy values for macronutrients. Carbohydrates and proteins each provide 4 kcal per gram, while fats provide 9 kcal per gram. These values are essential for calculating the energy contribution of each macronutrient.
Step 2: Calculate the energy contribution from carbohydrates. Multiply the grams of carbohydrates (13 g) by the energy value per gram (4 kcal/g). Use the formula: 13×4.
Step 3: Calculate the energy contribution from proteins. Multiply the grams of protein (5 g) by the energy value per gram (4 kcal/g). Use the formula: 5×4.
Step 4: Subtract the energy contributions from carbohydrates and proteins from the total energy (410 kcal) to determine the energy contribution from fats. Use the formula: 410(13×4)(5×4).
Step 5: Calculate the grams of fat by dividing the energy contribution from fats by the energy value per gram of fat (9 kcal/g). Use the formula: Energy from fats9.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Caloric Value of Macronutrients

Each macronutrient provides a specific amount of energy: carbohydrates and proteins each provide 4 kcal per gram, while fats provide 9 kcal per gram. Understanding these values is essential for calculating the grams of fat in a food item based on its total caloric content and the amounts of carbohydrates and proteins it contains.
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Energy Balance Equation

The energy balance equation states that the total energy in a food item is the sum of the energy provided by its macronutrients. To find the grams of fat in the avocado, one must subtract the energy contributed by carbohydrates and proteins from the total energy, allowing for the calculation of the remaining energy attributed to fat.
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Nutritional Calculation

Nutritional calculation involves using known values to derive unknown quantities. In this case, by applying the caloric values of macronutrients and the total caloric content of the avocado, one can determine the grams of fat by rearranging the energy balance equation to isolate the fat component.
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