Question

Complete catabolism of one glucose molecule yields 38 ATP molecules. How many moles of ATP are produced by the complete catabolism of one mole of glucose?

Short answer

38 moles of ATP are produced from one mole of glucose.

Step-by-step solution

Understanding the Question

We need to determine the number of moles of ATP produced from the complete catabolism of one mole of glucose. The problem states that one glucose molecule yields 38 ATP molecules when completely metabolized.

Relating Molecular to Molar Quantities

Since 1 mole of any substance contains Avogadro's number of molecules, we can apply this to glucose. One mole of glucose contains the same number of molecules as there are in 1 mole of ATP. Therefore, if each glucose molecule yields 38 molecules of ATP, we will have 38 moles of ATP for each mole of glucose.

Calculation

Given that 1 glucose molecule yields 38 ATP molecules, 1 mole of glucose will yield 38 moles of ATP because one mole consists of exactly the same number (Avogadro's number) of glucose molecules.

Key concepts

Glucose Catabolism

The process of glucose catabolism is a crucial part of cellular metabolism where glucose, a simple sugar, is broken down to release energy. During this process, glucose undergoes several biochemical reactions that occur in the presence of oxygen. The term "catabolism" itself refers to the breaking down of complex molecules into simpler ones, resulting in the release of energy.
The complete catabolism of glucose occurs through a series of steps:

• Glycolysis: Begins with breaking down glucose in the cytoplasm, resulting in the production of pyruvate and a small amount of adenosine triphosphate (ATP).
• Krebs Cycle: Pyruvate gets transported to the mitochondria, and through the Krebs cycle, it is further broken down, releasing more energy.
• Electron Transport Chain: This final step occurs in the mitochondrial membrane and produces the bulk of ATP by transferring electrons and creating a proton gradient that drives the synthesis of ATP.

These steps collectively ensure that glucose is fully catabolized, ultimately yielding up to 38 ATP molecules per glucose molecule under ideal conditions.

Moles and Molecules

Understanding the relationship between moles and molecules is fundamental in chemistry. The concept of "moles" allows chemists to deal with the vast number of atoms or molecules in substances practically. One mole contains exactly Avogadro's number of molecules, which is approximately \\(6.022 \times 10^{23}\).
When we talk about the complete catabolism of one mole of glucose, it means we are considering \\(6.022 \times 10^{23}\) molecules of glucose. Similarly, when we say one glucose molecule yields 38 ATP molecules, in terms of moles, this translates to one mole of glucose producing 38 moles of ATP. Thanks to Avogadro's number, we can directly translate these molecular counts into molar quantities without needing further conversion beyond understanding the 1:1 molar relationship between glucose and ATP production as described in the exercise.

Metabolism

Metabolism is a broad term that encompasses all chemical reactions within an organism that maintain life. These processes can be divided into two main categories: catabolic and anabolic.

Catabolism, including glucose catabolism, involves breaking down molecules to release energy. This energy is stored in the form of ATP, which cells use for various functions. Anabolism, on the other hand, uses energy to build complex molecules from simpler ones, such as synthesizing proteins from amino acids.

The energy harnessed in the catabolism of glucose is vital because it provides the necessary ATP that fuels these anabolic processes and maintains cellular functions. Metabolism ensures organisms can grow, reproduce, heal, and react to their environments effectively. Understanding metabolism gives us insights into how energy is produced and utilized, thereby bridging the gap between biochemical processes and physiological needs of organisms.