The number of ATP molecules that can be produced from a molecule of protein, fat, or carbohydrate is generally related to the number of atoms of which element?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The number of ATP molecules that can be produced from a molecule of protein, fat, or carbohydrate is generally related to the number of hydrogen atoms in the molecule. During cellular respiration, hydrogen atoms are transferred to electron carriers NAD+ and FAD to produce ATP through oxidative phosphorylation. Therefore, the more hydrogen atoms in the molecule, the more ATP can be produced.

The Number of ATP Molecules That Can Be Produced from a Molecule