The following unbalanced equation illustrates the overall reaction by which the body utilizes glucose to produce energy: c6h12o6(s) + o2(g) → co2(g) + h2o(l) what is the conversion factor that allows for the calculation of moles of carbon dioxide based on moles of glucose?

the conversion factor is f= 6  mol of glucose/ mol of CO2

Explanation:

First we need to balance the equation:

C6H12O6(s) + O2(g) → CO2(g) + H2O(l) (unbalanced)

C6H12O6(s) + 6O2(g) → 6CO2(g) + 6H2O(l) (balanced)

the conversion factor that allows to calculate the number of moles of CO2 based on moles of glucose is:

f = stoichiometric coefficient of CO2 in balanced reaction / stoichiometric coefficient of glucose in balanced reaction

f = 6 moles of CO2 / 1 mol of glucose = 6  mol of glucose/ mol of CO2

f = 6 mol of CO2/ mol of glucose

for example, for 2 moles of glucose the number of moles of CO2 produced are

n CO2 = f * n gluc = 6 moles of CO2/mol of glucose * 2 moles of glucose= 12 moles of CO2