- The citric acid cycle.
For each mole of glucose (C₆H₁₂O₆) oxidised by cellular respiration, how many moles of CO₂ are released in the citric acid cycle (see the accompanying figure)?
A) 2
B) 4
C) 6
D) 32

Question

- The citric acid cycle.
For each mole of glucose (C₆H₁₂O₆) oxidised by cellular respiration, how many moles of CO₂ are released in the citric acid cycle (see the accompanying figure)?
A) 2 
B) 4 
C) 6 
D) 32

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

For each mole of glucose oxidised, two moles of pyruvate are produced during glycolysis. These pyruvate molecules then enter the citric acid cycle as acetyl-CoA, and during the citric acid cycle, each acetyl-CoA molecule is completely oxidized to two molecules of CO₂. Therefore, for each mole of glucose oxidised, the citric acid cycle produces four moles of CO₂.

- the Citric Acid Cycle