Final answer:
If Callie's experiment showed that 100 molecules of glucose were utilized by germinating corn seeds, she would expect that 600 molecules of carbon dioxide were released, based on the fact that one molecule of glucose yields six molecules of carbon dioxide during cellular respiration.
Step-by-step explanation:
When Callie performed her experiment with germinating corn seeds, she found that they utilized 100 molecules of glucose. To understand how many molecules of carbon dioxide were released during this process, we need to examine the basic principles of cellular respiration, which is the process the seeds undergo to obtain energy from glucose. The equation for cellular respiration is:
C6H12O6 (glucose) + 6O2 (oxygen) → 6CO2 (carbon dioxide) + 6H2O (water) + energy
According to the equation, one molecule of glucose is broken down into six molecules of carbon dioxide and water in the presence of oxygen, releasing energy in the process. Hence, for every molecule of glucose consumed, six molecules of carbon dioxide would be expected to be released as waste.
Now, if Callie's germinating corn seeds utilized 100 molecules of glucose, the number of molecules of carbon dioxide produced can be calculated by multiplying the number of glucose molecules by six (as per the molar ratio from the cellular respiration equation). This calculation yields:
100 molecules of glucose x 6 molecules of CO2/molecule of glucose = 600 molecules of CO2
Therefore, Callie would expect that 600 molecules of carbon dioxide would have been released as a waste during the same amount of time the glucose was utilized. This process is a vital aspect of metabolism, whereby cells convert nutrients like glucose into energy and waste products in an efficient manner.