Textbook Question
After running a mile, you stop and breathe heavily for a short period due to oxygen debt. Why do you need to breathe so heavily? (Hint: Look up “oxygen debt” on the Web. Which metabolic pathway requires oxygen?)
Ch.21 The Generation of Biochemical Energy
McMurry8th EditionFundamentals of General, Organic, and Biological ChemistryISBN: 9780134015187
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Table of contents
- Ch.1 Matter and Measurements27
- Ch.2 Atoms and the Periodic Table20
- Ch.3 Ionic Compounds8
- Ch.4 Molecular Compounds23
- Ch.5 Classification & Balancing of Chemical Reactions12
- Ch.6 Chemical Reactions: Mole and Mass Relationships28
- Ch.7 Chemical Reactions: Energy, Rate and Equilibrium64
- Ch.8 Gases, Liquids and Solids24
- Ch.9 Solutions52
- Ch.10 Acids and Bases25
- Ch.11 Nuclear Chemistry22
- Ch.12 Introduction to Organic Chemistry: Alkanes57
- Ch.13 Alkenes, Alkynes, and Aromatic Compounds47
- Ch.14 Some Compounds with Oxygen, Sulfur, or a Halogen50
- Ch.15 Aldehydes and Ketones45
- Ch.16 Amines42
- Ch.17 Carboxylic Acids and Their Derivatives57
- Ch.18 Amino Acids and Proteins82
- Ch.19 Enzymes and Vitamins63
- Ch.20 Carbohydrates44
- Ch.21 The Generation of Biochemical Energy65
- Ch.22 Carbohydrate Metabolism45
- Ch.23 Lipids42
- Ch.24 Lipid Metabolism33
- Ch.25 Protein and Amino Acid Metabolism24
- Ch.26 Nucleic Acids and Protein Synthesis45
McMurry8th EditionFundamentals of General, Organic, and Biological ChemistryISBN: 9780134015187Not the one you use?Change textbook
Chapter 21, Problem 85b
The citric acid cycle contains four 4-carbon dicarboxylic acids.
b. Arrange them in order from least oxidized to most oxidized.
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Identify the four 4-carbon dicarboxylic acids involved in the citric acid cycle: succinate, fumarate, malate, and oxaloacetate. These compounds differ in their oxidation states.
Understand the concept of oxidation: Oxidation involves the loss of electrons, which often corresponds to an increase in the number of bonds to oxygen or a decrease in the number of bonds to hydrogen in organic molecules.
Analyze the structure of each compound: Succinate has no double bonds and is the least oxidized. Fumarate has a double bond between two carbons, indicating a higher oxidation state. Malate has a hydroxyl (-OH) group, which is more oxidized than fumarate. Oxaloacetate has a ketone group (C=O), making it the most oxidized.
Arrange the compounds in order of increasing oxidation: Start with succinate (least oxidized), followed by fumarate, then malate, and finally oxaloacetate (most oxidized).
Verify the order by comparing the functional groups and oxidation states of each compound to ensure the sequence aligns with the principles of oxidation in organic chemistry.
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Citric Acid Cycle
The citric acid cycle, also known as the Krebs cycle, is a key metabolic pathway that occurs in the mitochondria. It plays a crucial role in cellular respiration by oxidizing acetyl-CoA to produce energy in the form of ATP, as well as electron carriers like NADH and FADH2. Understanding this cycle is essential for analyzing the oxidation states of the compounds involved.
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Citric Acid Cycle Summary Concept 12
Oxidation States
Oxidation states refer to the degree of oxidation of an atom in a chemical compound, indicating how many electrons have been lost or gained. In the context of the citric acid cycle, the oxidation state helps determine the relative reactivity and energy content of the dicarboxylic acids. Recognizing the changes in oxidation states throughout the cycle is vital for arranging the acids from least to most oxidized.
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Dicarboxylic Acids
Dicarboxylic acids are organic compounds that contain two carboxyl (-COOH) groups. In the citric acid cycle, four key dicarboxylic acids are involved: oxaloacetate, succinate, fumarate, and malate. Understanding their structures and how they interconvert during the cycle is important for determining their oxidation levels and arranging them accordingly.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question
The citric acid cycle contains four 4-carbon dicarboxylic acids.
a. Name them.
Textbook Question
The mitochondrion pumps H+ from the matrix into the intermembrane space. Which region is more acidic, the matrix or the intermembrane space? Why?
Textbook Question
If you use a flame to burn a pile of glucose completely to give carbon dioxide and water, the overall reaction is identical to the metabolic oxidation of glucose. Explain the differences in the fate of the energy released in each case.