How does the cellular respiration equation demonstrate the conservation of matter?
The cellular respiration equation is as follows:
C6H12O6 + 6O2 -> 6CO2 + 6H2O + energy (36-38 ATP)
In this equation, glucose (C6H12O6) and oxygen (O2) are consumed, resulting in the production of carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O) as waste products. Additionally, energy in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is generated.
The conservation of matter is demonstrated in this equation because the total number of atoms on the reactant side (glucose and oxygen) is equal to the total number of atoms on the product side (carbon dioxide and water). This means that no atoms are created or destroyed during cellular respiration, thereby adhering to the principle of the conservation of matter. The atoms are only rearranged to form different molecules.
The cellular respiration equation represents the process that occurs in living organisms to produce energy. It demonstrates the conservation of matter because the total number of atoms on both sides of the equation remains the same.
Here is the balanced equation for cellular respiration in aerobic organisms:
C6H12O6 + 6O2 → 6CO2 + 6H2O + energy (ATP)
In this equation, glucose (C6H12O6) and oxygen (O2) are reactants, while carbon dioxide (CO2), water (H2O), and energy in the form of ATP are products.
The equation shows that six molecules of oxygen are consumed, and six molecules of carbon dioxide and six molecules of water are produced. Additionally, energy in the form of ATP is generated.
Although the arrangement of atoms changes during cellular respiration, the total number of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms remains the same. This is an example of the conservation of matter, where matter cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed or rearranged.
The cellular respiration equation, which represents the process by which cells convert glucose and oxygen into carbon dioxide, water, and energy, demonstrates the conservation of matter through the principle of balanced chemical equations.
To understand how it demonstrates the conservation of matter, let's look at the equation:
C6H12O6 + 6O2 -> 6CO2 + 6H2O + energy (ATP)
In this equation, glucose (C6H12O6) and oxygen (O2) are the reactants, while carbon dioxide (CO2), water (H2O), and energy in the form of ATP are the products. The numbers in front of each reactant and product represent the stoichiometric coefficients.
The conservation of matter states that matter cannot be created or destroyed in a chemical reaction but can only change its form. This means that the total number of atoms of each element must be the same on both sides of the chemical equation.
Analyzing the equation, we can see that there are six atoms of carbon (C) on both sides, twelve atoms of hydrogen (H) on both sides, and eighteen atoms of oxygen (O) on both sides. Therefore, the equation is balanced in terms of the number of atoms of each element.
This demonstrates the conservation of matter because the total mass and number of atoms of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen are conserved throughout the reaction. The carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms present in glucose and oxygen are merely rearranged to form carbon dioxide and water as the products. No atoms are gained or lost in this process.
Hence, the cellular respiration equation demonstrates the conservation of matter by showcasing that matter, in the form of atoms, is conserved during the chemical reaction.