Chemistry Forum

Hi,

Could someone help me balancing this equation? I am second guessing myself that I have written the equation from the question correctly in the first place.

"Bacterial cells with an empirically determined molecular formula of C₅H₇NO₂ are grown on a
glucose substrate with ammonia as nitrogen source. The yield of cells is determined to be
0.42 g cells/g glucose.
a. Write and balance a stoichiometric equation to describe this system
b. What is the respiratory quotient?"

The equation I think it is from the question:

C₆H₁₂O₆ + NH₃ = C₅H₇NO₂ + CO₂ + H₂₀

(Glucose + Ammonia) = (Cells + Carbon dioxide + Water)

Then after I balanced it:

5C₆H₁₂₀₆ + 6NH₃ = 6C₅H₇NO₂ + CO₂ + 18H₂₀

If anyone could help in anyway I'd be really grateful, struggling with the content in this course at the moment so any help would be appreciated.

The balanced equation is still wrong.
Left 30 C, 78 H, 30 O, 6 N Right 31 C 78 H, O 32 ,6 N
You forget to count the CO₂

The RQ = V(CO₂)/V(O₂)

Oh yeah I forgot the CO₂! From the question I don't think I have the equation correct to begin with though as the respiratory quotient is moles CO₂ produced/moles O₂ consumed.

I think I should have oxygen on the left maybe also then. And I think I might have to use this formula:

Substrate + Oxygen + Nitrogen Source →(dry) Biomass + Carbon Dioxide + Water

CwHxOyNz + aO₂ + bHgOhNi = cCHaObNd + dCO₂ + eH₂O

I think this is why balancing it the other way isn't working out IO think but I am still confused by it

What about this

C₆H₁₂O₆ + O₂ + NH₃ => C₅H₇NO₂ + CO₂ + 4 H₂O

RQ = 1