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.
Equation balance help
Moderators: Xen, expert, ChenBeier
- ChenBeier
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Re: Equation balance help
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)
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)
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Re: Equation balance help
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
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
- ChenBeier
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- Posts: 1542
- Joined: Wed Sep 27, 2017 7:25 am
- Location: Berlin, Germany
Re: Equation balance help
What about this
C6H12O6 + O2 + NH3 => C5H7NO2 + CO2 + 4 H2O
RQ = 1
C6H12O6 + O2 + NH3 => C5H7NO2 + CO2 + 4 H2O
RQ = 1