alleryStart learning →How much ATP can the breakdown of a single glucose molecule yield?
A2 to 4 molecules of ATP
B12 to 18 molecules of ATP
C36 to 38 molecules of ATP
D54 to 60 molecules of ATP
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: C. 36 to 38 molecules of ATP
1. The breakdown of sugars shows how much energy a single glucose molecule stores.
2. One molecule of glucose can store enough energy to make 36 to 38 molecules of ATP.
3. This is a catabolic pathway, degrading a complex molecule into simpler ones and harvesting the released energy.
4. The figure 54 belongs to the molecule equivalents needed to build glucose, not the ATP recovered from breaking it down.
_Source: OpenStax Biology (1st ed., CC BY 4.0), Ch 6 "Metabolism", section 6.1 Energy and Metabolism_
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