Table of contents

1. Matter and Measurements4h 31m
2. Atoms and the Periodic Table5h 23m
3. Ionic Compounds2h 18m
4. Molecular Compounds2h 18m
5. Classification & Balancing of Chemical Reactions3h 17m
6. Chemical Reactions & Quantities2h 27m
7. Energy, Rate and Equilibrium3h 46m
8. Gases, Liquids and Solids3h 25m
9. Solutions4h 10m
10. Acids and Bases3h 29m
11. Nuclear Chemistry56m
BONUS: Lab Techniques and Procedures1h 38m
BONUS: Mathematical Operations and Functions47m
12. Introduction to Organic Chemistry1h 34m
13. Alkenes, Alkynes, and Aromatic Compounds2h 12m
14. Compounds with Oxygen or Sulfur1h 6m
15. Aldehydes and Ketones1h 1m
16. Carboxylic Acids and Their Derivatives1h 11m
17. Amines39m
18. Amino Acids and Proteins1h 51m
19. Enzymes1h 37m
20. Carbohydrates1h 41m
21. The Generation of Biochemical Energy2h 8m
22. Carbohydrate Metabolism2h 22m
23. Lipids2h 26m
24. Lipid Metabolism1h 45m
25. Protein and Amino Acid Metabolism1h 37m
26. Nucleic Acids and Protein Synthesis2h 54m

24. Lipid Metabolism

Total Energy from Fatty Acids

GOB Chemistry

24. Lipid Metabolism

Total Energy from Fatty Acids

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2:26 minutes

Problem 98a

Textbook Question

Which of the following molecules will produce the most ATP per mole?
a. glucose or stearic acid (C₁₈)

Verified step by step guidance

Step 1: Understand the context of ATP production. ATP (adenosine triphosphate) is the primary energy currency in cells, and its production depends on the oxidation of molecules during cellular respiration. Larger molecules with more carbon atoms typically yield more ATP because they undergo more cycles of oxidation.

Step 2: Compare the molecular structures of glucose and stearic acid (C₁₈). Glucose (C₆H₁₂O₆) is a carbohydrate with six carbon atoms, while stearic acid (C₁₈H₃₆O₂) is a fatty acid with eighteen carbon atoms.

Step 3: Analyze the metabolic pathways. Glucose undergoes glycolysis, the citric acid cycle, and oxidative phosphorylation, producing ATP. Stearic acid undergoes beta-oxidation, which breaks it into acetyl-CoA units that enter the citric acid cycle, producing significantly more ATP due to its larger number of carbon atoms.

Step 4: Consider the energy yield per mole. Each acetyl-CoA unit generated from beta-oxidation of stearic acid contributes to ATP production, and since stearic acid has 18 carbons, it produces more acetyl-CoA units compared to glucose, which has only 6 carbons.

Step 5: Conclude that stearic acid (C₁₈) will produce the most ATP per mole because it has more carbon atoms and undergoes more cycles of oxidation, yielding a higher total ATP production compared to glucose.

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Key Concepts

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

Cellular Respiration

Cellular respiration is the metabolic process by which cells convert nutrients into energy, primarily in the form of ATP. It involves glycolysis, the citric acid cycle, and oxidative phosphorylation. Different substrates yield varying amounts of ATP; for instance, fats generally produce more ATP than carbohydrates due to their higher energy content.

Fatty Acid Oxidation

Fatty acid oxidation is the process by which fatty acids are broken down in the mitochondria to generate acetyl-CoA, which then enters the citric acid cycle. Stearic acid (C18) undergoes beta-oxidation, producing more acetyl-CoA and subsequently more ATP than glucose, which is a carbohydrate and yields less energy per mole.

ATP Yield Comparison

The ATP yield comparison between different molecules is crucial for understanding energy production. Glucose typically yields about 30-32 ATP molecules per mole, while stearic acid can yield approximately 120 ATP molecules per mole due to its longer carbon chain and higher number of electrons available for oxidation, making it a more energy-dense substrate.