Free energy glucose metabolism

The process of glycolysis converts some, but not all, of the metabolic energy of the glucose molecule into ATP. The free energy change for the conversion of glucose to two molecules of lactate (the anaerobic route shown in Figure 19.1) is -183.6 kj/mol ... 

Fats such as palmitic acid are metabolized through pathways similar to the ones for the oxidation of glucose. The complete oxidation of palmitic acid has a standard free energy change of-9790 kJ/mol and produces 130 ATP molecules per molecule of palmitic acid consumed. You should be able to verily that this metabolic process has about the same efficiency as the oxidation of glucose. 

Coupled reactions play a crucial role in our survival. In biological systems, enzymes facilitate a wide variety of nonspontaneous reactions. For example, in the human body, food molecules, represented by glucose (C6Hx206), are converted to carbon dioxide and water during metabolism with a substantial release of free energy ... 

FIGURE 18.10 Schematic representation of ATP synthesis and coupled reactions in living systems. The conversion of glucose to carbon dioxide and water during metabolism releases free energy. This release of free energy is used to convert ADP into ATP. The ATP molecules are then used as an energy source to drive nonspontaneous reactions, such as the synthesis of proteins from amino acids. 

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