Textbook Question
Which of the following molecules will produce the most ATP per mole?
a. glucose or maltose
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Ch.18 Metabolic Pathways and ATP Production
Timberlake14thChemistry: An Introduction to General, Organic, and Biological ChemistryISBN: 9781292472249
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Table of contents
- Ch.1 Chemistry in Our Lives19
- Ch.2 Chemistry and Measurements80
- Ch.3 Matter and Energy53
- Ch.4 Atoms and Elements58
- Ch.5 Nuclear Chemistry42
- Ch.6 Ionic and Molecular Compounds57
- Ch.7 Chemical Quantities and Reactions38
- Ch.8 Gases30
- Ch.9 Solutions50
- Ch.10 Acids and Bases and Equilibrium64
- Ch.11 Introduction to Organic Chemistry: Hydrocarbons77
- Ch.12 Alcohols, Thiols, Ethers, Aldehydes, and Ketones82
- Ch.13 Carbohydrates54
- Ch.14 Carboxylic Acids, Esters, Amines, and Amides91
- Ch.15 Lipids61
- Ch.16 Amino Acids, Proteins, and Enzymes84
- Ch.17 Nucleic Acids and Protein Synthesis86
- Ch.18 Metabolic Pathways and ATP Production73
Timberlake14thChemistry: An Introduction to General, Organic, and Biological ChemistryISBN: 9781292472249Not the one you use?Change textbook
Chapter 18, Problem 98b
Which of the following molecules will produce the most ATP per mole?
b. glucose or two pyruvate
Verified step by step guidance1
Step 1: Understand the context of ATP production. ATP (adenosine triphosphate) is the primary energy currency in cells, and its production is closely tied to cellular respiration processes such as glycolysis, the citric acid cycle, and oxidative phosphorylation.
Step 2: Recall the metabolic pathways involved. Glucose undergoes glycolysis, producing two pyruvate molecules, along with a net gain of 2 ATP and 2 NADH. Pyruvate can then enter the mitochondria for further processing in the citric acid cycle and oxidative phosphorylation.
Step 3: Compare the ATP yield from glucose versus two pyruvate molecules. Glucose is the starting molecule for glycolysis, which produces two pyruvate molecules. The ATP yield from glucose includes the ATP generated during glycolysis, the citric acid cycle, and oxidative phosphorylation. Two pyruvate molecules bypass glycolysis and directly enter the citric acid cycle, contributing ATP only from the citric acid cycle and oxidative phosphorylation.
Step 4: Consider the additional energy contributions. Glucose provides more ATP overall because it includes the ATP generated during glycolysis, whereas two pyruvate molecules do not contribute the ATP from glycolysis.
Step 5: Conclude the comparison. Glucose will produce more ATP per mole compared to two pyruvate molecules because it undergoes glycolysis in addition to the citric acid cycle and oxidative phosphorylation.
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, specifically ATP. It involves several stages, including glycolysis, the Krebs cycle, and oxidative phosphorylation. Understanding this process is crucial for determining how different molecules, like glucose and pyruvate, contribute to ATP production.
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Anaerobic Respiration Concept 1
ATP Yield from Glucose vs. Pyruvate
Glucose, when fully oxidized through cellular respiration, can yield up to 30-32 ATP molecules per molecule, while pyruvate, which is produced from glucose during glycolysis, can yield significantly less ATP when further metabolized. This difference in ATP yield is essential for comparing the energy potential of these two molecules.
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Glycolysis and Fermentation
Glycolysis is the initial step in glucose metabolism, breaking down glucose into two pyruvate molecules and producing a net gain of 2 ATP. If oxygen is not available, pyruvate can undergo fermentation, which does not produce additional ATP. Understanding these pathways helps clarify why glucose is generally more efficient for ATP production than pyruvate alone.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question
Which of the following molecules will produce the most ATP per mole?
d. glucose or caprylic acid (C8)
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Which of the following molecules will produce the most ATP per mole?
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Which of the following molecules will produce the most ATP per mole?
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Textbook Question
Which of the following molecules will produce the most ATP per mole?
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716
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Textbook Question
Which of the following molecules will produce the most ATP per mole?
d. lauric acid (C12) or palmitic acid (C16)
45
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