Problem 99 - Chemistry Matter and Change

Question

Calculate how many moles of ATP a human body can produce from the sugar in a bushel of medium-sized Red Delicious apples. Use the Internet to find the information you need to solve this problem.

Step-by-Step Solution

Answer

From a bushel of Red Delicious apples, approximately 374.76 moles of ATP can be produced.

Step 1: Determine the sugar content in one apple

Research reveals that a medium-sized Red Delicious apple contains approximately 19 grams of carbohydrates, of which around 15 grams are sugars.

Step 2: Calculate total sugars in a bushel of apples

A bushel typically contains about 125 medium-sized apples. Thus, the total sugar content in a bushel is approximately \(125 \times 15 = 1875\) grams.

Step 3: Convert sugars (glucose) to moles

The molar mass of glucose (C₆H₁₂O₆) is about 180.16 g/mol. Hence, the moles of glucose present is calculated using \(\frac{1875}{180.16} \approx 10.41\) moles.

Step 4: Convert moles of glucose to moles of ATP

During cellular respiration, one mole of glucose can theoretically yield up to 36 moles of ATP. Therefore, \(10.41 \times 36 \approx 374.76\) moles of ATP are produced.

Key Concepts

Sugar Content in Apples

Apples are more than just a tasty snack. They are an important source of various nutrients and are notably rich in carbohydrates, primarily in the form of sugars. In a medium-sized Red Delicious apple, you typically find about 19 grams of carbohydrates, with 15 grams being sugars.
This means that the sugar is the dominant form of carbohydrate in the apple. The sugar most commonly present is glucose, which is a key energy source. Knowing the sugar content is essential when calculating energy potential, as seen in exercises dealing with ATP production through cellular respiration.

• A medium apple has about 15 grams of sugar
• Sugar is crucial for cellular respiration

Molar Mass of Glucose

Understanding the molar mass of glucose is fundamental in chemistry, especially when calculating reactions involving glucose. Glucose's chemical formula is C₆H₁₂O₆, which hints at its atomic composition: six carbon atoms, twelve hydrogen atoms, and six oxygen atoms.
The molar mass of glucose is calculated by summing up the atomic masses of all these elements:

• Carbon: 12.01 g/mol * 6
• Hydrogen: 1.01 g/mol * 12
• Oxygen: 16.00 g/mol * 6

This yields a total molar mass of approximately 180.16 g/mol. This value is crucial when converting grams of sugar into moles, facilitating the calculation of energy released during cellular respiration.

Cellular Respiration

Cellular respiration is a remarkable process where cells convert glucose into usable energy, in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). This process occurs in the mitochondria and involves several complex steps.
Here's a simplified outline:

• Glucose is initially broken down in a process called glycolysis.
• The products then enter the mitochondria where the Krebs cycle further processes them.
• Finally, the electron transport chain produces the majority of ATP from the energy extracted from glucose.

During these stages, one mole of glucose can theoretically yield up to 36 moles of ATP, showcasing the efficiency of this cellular process.

ATP Production

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) serves as the energy currency of the cell, powering many biological functions. The body generates ATP from glucose, among other sources, during cellular respiration. In our previous calculation, it was noted that one mole of glucose can produce approximately 36 moles of ATP.
Translating this to practical scenarios, like the sugar found in a bushel of apples, highlights the substantial energy content.

• Approximately 1875 grams of sugar can yield about 374.76 moles of ATP.
• This demonstrates how a bulk of sugars, such as those in apples, can be an efficient energy source.
• In essence, understanding ATP production helps illustrate the link between food intake and energy availability.