A training scientist is asked to estimate the biochemical mass cost of producing 10,000 moles of ATP via aerobic oxidation of glucose (assume 36 ATP produced per mole of glucose and a molar mass for glucose of 180 g/mol). How many moles of glucose and how many grams of glucose are required? Show calculations.

• A. Approximately 277.8 moles of glucose, which corresponds to about 50,000 g (50.0 kg) of glucose.
• B. Approximately 10,000 moles of glucose and 1,800,000 g (1,800 kg) because each mole of glucose yields only 1 ATP by aerobic oxidation.
• C. No glucose is required since ATP is typically produced from stored creatine phosphate which supplies all moles of ATP during aerobic exercise.
• D. Approximately 36 moles of glucose and 6,480 g (6.48 kg) because each mole of glucose yields about 10,000 ATP molecules when fully oxidized.

Answer: (A)