Question

Contrary to legend, camels do not store water in their humps. Camel humps actually contain large fat deposits that can serve as a source of water. Calculate the volume of water in liters that a camel can produce from 1.0 kg of fat. Assume for simplicity that the fat consists entirely of tripalmitoylglycerol, (MW=807 g/mol)(MW=807 g/mol) and ignore the products of glycerol oxidation.

Answer 1

1.54l H2O

Step-by-step explanation:

recall that tripalmitoylglycerol comprises of 3 palmitoyl-CoA molecules

so, we will evaluate water produced from beta oxidation of 3 molecules of palmitoyl -CoA

we have,

1,2,3 moles of tripalmitoylglycerol x 3

= 3.72 moles of palmitoyl-CoA

also, Beta oxidation of 1 palmitoyl-CoA will produce 23 molecules of water (H2O)

3.72 moles of palmitoyl-CoA = 23H2O X 3.72

= 85.56 molecules of H2O

molecuular weight of water = 18

therefore, 18g x 85.86 = 1540g of water

= 1540ml H2O

= 1.54l H2O