How many moles of carbon dioxide are produced by the complete oxidation of 1 mole of pyruvate?
Correct answer: C. 3
- A. 1 mole
- B. 2 mole
- C. 3
- D. 4
Explanation
The complete oxidation of one mole of pyruvate produces three moles of carbon dioxide. This is because pyruvate, a three-carbon compound, is first converted into acetyl-CoA with the release of one molecule of carbon dioxide, and the remaining two carbons are released as two more carbon dioxide molecules during the citric acid cycle. Therefore, all three carbons from pyruvate end up as carbon dioxide, making three moles the correct answer.One mole: Only one carbon would be oxidized, leaving two unaccounted for.Two moles: Misses one carbon released during the acetyl-CoA formation step.Four moles: Impossible since pyruvate contains only three carbon atoms.
Report an error
The more specific you are, the faster it gets fixed. A source beats an opinion.
Prefer email? [email protected]
About Bioenergetics
Cellular respiration explains how cells release energy from glucose through glycolysis, the link reaction, Krebs cycle and electron transport chain. It includes ATP production, substrate-level and oxidative phosphorylation, aerobic versus anaerobic respiration, and the roles of mitochondria, oxygen and fermentation in energy transfer.
Practise Bioenergetics
1,378 free Bioenergetics MCQs from Biology, each with the correct answer and an explanation. Unlimited attempts, no account needed.
Discussion
Stuck on an option, or know a faster way to get there? Ask or explain it here.
No comments yet. Be the first to explain this one.
Exams that ask Biology questions like this
Biology is on 8 papers prepared for on TestUstad, and all of them draw the same bank, so this question is worth knowing for every one of them.
More Bioenergetics questions
Before entering the tricarboxylic acid cycle, the pyruvate produced by the glycolytic pathway is first converted to:
At which stage of the Krebs cycle does oxidative decarboxylation take place?
A common step of aerobic and anaerobic respiration is
Where are the enzymes located that are involved in the chemical reactions that occur during glycolysis?
Both glucose and the appropriate enzymes are necessary for glycolysis to begin. Which additional compound must also be present?
During photosynthesis, the oxygen in glucose comes from: