Provide total moles of ATP produced by complete β-oxidation of 3.4 g of palmitic acid (256.43 g/mol).

• A. 1.4 ATP
• B. 31.2 ATP
• C. 106 ATP
• D. 1.43 ATP

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Begin by calculating the number of moles of palmitic acid. Use the formula: \( ext{moles} = \frac{ ext{mass}}{ ext{molar mass}} \). Here, the mass is 3.4 g and the molar mass is 256.43 g/mol.
2. Step 2: Understand the process of β-oxidation. Palmitic acid (C16) undergoes β-oxidation, which involves the breakdown of fatty acids into acetyl-CoA units. Each cycle of β-oxidation shortens the fatty acid chain by two carbon atoms, producing one acetyl-CoA.
3. Step 3: Calculate the number of acetyl-CoA units produced from one molecule of palmitic acid. Since palmitic acid has 16 carbon atoms, it will produce 8 acetyl-CoA units (16/2 = 8).
4. Step 4: Determine the ATP yield from acetyl-CoA. Each acetyl-CoA enters the citric acid cycle, producing approximately 10 ATP per acetyl-CoA. Therefore, calculate the total ATP from the acetyl-CoA units produced.
5. Step 5: Consider additional ATP produced during β-oxidation itself. Each cycle of β-oxidation also produces NADH and FADH2, which contribute to ATP production. Calculate the total ATP from these cycles and add it to the ATP from acetyl-CoA to find the total ATP produced.