Question

In mitochondria, with the complete breakdown of glucose, about how many molecules of ATP can be produced for each molecule of glucose oxidized?

Answer 1

The complete breakdown of glucose in mitochondria can produce as many as 38 molecules of ATP for each molecule of glucose oxidized. This is achieved through several stages of aerobic cellular respiration, including glycolysis, the Krebs cycle, and the electron transport chain.

Step-by-step explanation:

The complete breakdown of glucose in mitochondria can produce as many as 38 molecules of ATP for each molecule of glucose oxidized. This is achieved through several stages of aerobic cellular respiration, including glycolysis, the Krebs cycle, and the electron transport chain. For example, during glycolysis, a net of zero ATP is produced, but in subsequent stages, the number of ATP molecules produced can vary. NADH generated from glucose oxidation can produce about three ATP molecules, while FADH2 can produce about two ATP molecules. All these processes combined result in the production of around 36 ATP molecules, and when the ATP produced in glycolysis is added, the total yield can reach 38 ATP molecules.