Approximately how many molecules of ATP are generated from the complete oxidation of one molecule of glucose?

Answer 1

Glucose is C6H12O6

Complete oxidation produces only carbon dioxide and water (using atmospheric oxygen).

From glucose, six water molecules can be produced, since water contains two hydrogen atoms per molecule, and there are twelve of these in glucose.

n = m/Mr

This equation describes the relationship between the number of moles (n), the mass (m) and the relative molecular mass (Mr).

Mr of glucose is 6x12 + 12x1 + 6x16 = 180 g/mol, because Mr is the sum of the atomic masses of each atom.

Therefore n = 1/180 moles.

We have already determined that one molecule of glucose is oxidised into six water molecules. Therefore, one mole of glucose will also be oxidised into six moles of water, since a mole is an absolute quantity.

If we have 1/180th of a mole of glucose, it can be oxidised into 6 x 1/180th of a mole. This is 6/180 = 1/30th mole of water.

Mr of water is 16+1+1 = 18 g/mol.

We have 1/30 mol.

Using n = m/Mr, rearranged for m (so now m = n x Mr):

m = 1/30 x 18

m = 18/30 = 3/5 g

From one gram of glucose, we can oxidise it to produce 0.6 grams of water.

Answer 2

Six.

The overall process is:

C6H12O6 + 6O2 --> 6CO2 + 6H2O

Answer 3

36 in eukarya, 38 in prokarya (prokarya do not have to use ATP to transport high energy molecules from one organelle to another)

Answer 4

32