Glucose + 2X -enzymes-> 2 Pyruvic acid + 4ATP. What substances is indicated by "X" in this equation?

1 Answer

See explanation.

Explanation:

Glucose+2Xenzymes2Pyruvic acid+4ATP

Let us represent the chemical reaction

C6H12O6+2X2C3H4O3+4C10H16N5O13P3

Now multiply the number of moles to the number of moles of each element

for example = 2H2=H22=H4

This is not true but helps in determining the missing reactant or missing product as in this problem.

The result would be

C6H12O6+2XC6H8O6+C40H56N20O52P12

Now show the number of atoms of each element in each compound we know.

C6H12O6=H12,O6,C6
C6H8O6=H8,O6,C6
C40H56N20O52P12=H56,O52,C40,P12

Add the no. of elements in the products and subtract it from the elements in reactants. it will give

H56+H8H12=52 atoms of hydrogen

O52+O6O6=52 atoms of oxygen

C40+C6C6=40 atoms of carbon

P120=P12

so the remaining atoms would be 2X as energy is neither created nor destroyed, so

X=C40H52O52P122=C20H26O26P6