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Q.Define RQ. What is the RQ when carbohydrates are broken down anaerobically ?

Jammu Kashmir JkboseJammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (Class 11) 2024Subjective· 2mImportance★★★★★
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RQ = CO2 evolved / O2 consumed. Since anaerobic respiration of carbohydrates releases CO2 without consuming any O2, the RQ works out to infinity.

Definition: The Respiratory Quotient (RQ), also called the Respiratory Ratio, is defined as:

RQ = Volume of CO2 evolved / Volume of O2 consumed

It depends on the type of respiratory substrate being oxidised (carbohydrate, fat, or protein) and on whether respiration is aerobic or anaerobic.

RQ for anaerobic breakdown of carbohydrates: In anaerobic respiration (fermentation), a carbohydrate such as glucose is broken down to ethanol and CO2 (alcoholic fermentation) or to lactic acid (lactic acid fermentation) WITHOUT using molecular oxygen at all — oxygen is not the terminal electron acceptor in these pathways. Since:

  • Volume of O2 consumed = 0 …

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