Question

What fraction of the carbon dioxide exhaled by animals is generated by the reactions of the citric acid cycle

Answer 1

Answer:

1/3

Explanation:

Pyruvate is produced by the glycolysis in cytoplasm. The oxidation of pyruvate takes place in mitochondrial matrix.  

Pyruvate is converted to acetyl-CoA in the reaction given below:

Pyruvate + NAD⁺ + CoA-SH ⇒ acetyl-CoA + NADH + CO₂

1 molecule of carbon dioxide is eliminated from 1 molecule of pyruvate.

Also,  

2 molecules of carbon dioxide is eliminated from 2 molecules of pyruvate (as glucose on glycolysis yields 2 molecules of pyruvate).

Also, acetyl-CoA further goes into the citric acid cycle and produces 2 molecules of carbon dioxide.

Thus pyruvate produces total 3 molecules of CO₂  and hence glucose produces 6 molecules of CO₂ (as glucose on glycolysis yields 2 molecules of pyruvate)

Thus,

Fraction = 2/6 = 1/3