Textbook Question
Which of the following molecules will produce the most ATP per mole?
a. glucose or stearic acid (C18)
Ch.18 Metabolic Pathways and ATP Production
Timberlake13th EditionChemistry: An Introduction to General, Organic, and Biological ChemistryISBN: 9780134421353
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Table of contents
- Ch.1 Chemistry in Our Lives11
- Ch.2 Chemistry and Measurements80
- Ch.3 Matter and Energy54
- Ch.4 Atoms and Elements51
- Ch.5 Nuclear Chemistry42
- Ch.6 Ionic and Molecular Compounds57
- Ch.7 Chemical Quantities and Reactions41
- Ch.8 Gases29
- Ch.9 Solutions51
- Ch.10 Acids and Bases and Equilibrium65
- Ch.11 Introduction to Organic Chemistry: Hydrocarbons78
- Ch.12 Alcohols, Thiols, Ethers, Aldehydes, and Ketones83
- Ch.13 Carbohydrates54
- Ch.14 Carboxylic Acids, Esters, Amines, and Amides90
- Ch.15 Lipids61
- Ch.16 Amino Acids, Proteins, and Enzymes84
- Ch.17 Nucleic Acids and Protein Synthesis83
- Ch.18 Metabolic Pathways and ATP Production67
Timberlake13th EditionChemistry: An Introduction to General, Organic, and Biological ChemistryISBN: 9780134421353Not the one you use?Change textbook
Chapter 18, Problem 97a
Which of the following molecules will produce the most ATP per mole?
a. glucose or maltose
Verified step by step guidance1
Step 1: Understand the context of ATP production. ATP (adenosine triphosphate) is the primary energy currency in cells. It is produced during cellular respiration, which involves the breakdown of carbohydrates like glucose and maltose.
Step 2: Analyze the molecular structure of glucose and maltose. Glucose is a monosaccharide (C₆H₁₂O₆), while maltose is a disaccharide composed of two glucose units (C₁₂H₂₂O₁₁).
Step 3: Recognize that maltose, being a disaccharide, can be hydrolyzed into two glucose molecules during digestion. Each glucose molecule can then enter glycolysis and subsequent metabolic pathways to produce ATP.
Step 4: Compare the ATP yield. Since maltose consists of two glucose molecules, it has the potential to produce twice as much ATP as a single glucose molecule when fully metabolized.
Step 5: Conclude that maltose will produce more ATP per mole than glucose because it provides two glucose molecules for metabolism, effectively doubling the ATP yield compared to a single glucose molecule.
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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, specifically ATP. It involves glycolysis, the Krebs cycle, and oxidative phosphorylation. Understanding this process is crucial for determining how different molecules, like glucose and maltose, are broken down to produce ATP.
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Anaerobic Respiration Concept 1
ATP Yield from Carbohydrates
Different carbohydrates yield varying amounts of ATP upon metabolism. For instance, glucose typically produces about 30-32 ATP molecules per mole, while maltose, being a disaccharide, is broken down into two glucose units, potentially yielding a similar amount. This concept is essential for comparing the energy output of these molecules.
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Molecular Structure and Energy Content
The molecular structure of carbohydrates affects their energy content and how efficiently they can be metabolized. Glucose, a monosaccharide, is more readily utilized in cellular respiration compared to maltose, which requires additional enzymatic steps for breakdown. This structural difference plays a significant role in ATP production.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question
Match the following ATP yields to reactions a to g:
1.5 ATP 2.5 ATP 7 ATP 10 ATP
12 ATP 32 ATP 36 ATP
f. NADH + H+ is oxidized to NAD+.
Textbook Question
Identify each of the following reactions a to e in the β oxidation of palmitic acid, a C16 fatty acid, as
(1) activation
(2) first oxidation
(3) hydration
(4) second oxidation
(5) cleavage
a. Palmitoyl CoA and FAD form α, β-unsaturated palmitoyl CoA and FADH2.
Textbook Question
Identify each of the following reactions a to e in the β oxidation of palmitic acid, a C16 fatty acid, as
(1) activation
(2) first oxidation
(3) hydration
(4) second oxidation
(5) cleavage
c. Palmitic acid, CoA, and ATP form palmitoyl CoA.
Textbook Question
Which of the following molecules will produce the most ATP per mole?
d. glucose or caprylic acid (C8)
Textbook Question
Which of the following molecules will produce the most ATP per mole?
d. lauric acid (C12) or palmitic acid (C16)