In animal metabolism, most of the monomers released by digestion of food macromolecules are metabolized to provide energy. Only a small portion of these monomers are used for synthesis of new macromolecules. The net result is that
A) water is generated by animal metabolism.
B) water is consumed by animal metabolism.
C) the water consumed is exactly balanced by the water generated, to maintain homeostasis.
D) water is consumed during homeostasis, but water is generated during periods of growth.
E) water is generated during homeostasis, but water is consumed during periods of growth.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

During animal metabolism, water is consumed as a reactant in many of the chemical reactions that break down food molecules and release energy. For example, the breakdown of glucose during cellular respiration requires the input of water molecules. Therefore, the net result of animal metabolism is water consumption rather than water generation. While some water is generated during metabolic reactions, this amount is typically smaller than the amount consumed, especially when considering the overall metabolic processes in the body.

In Animal Metabolism, Most of the Monomers Released by Digestion