Question

In aerobic respiration, 38 ATP are generated. Only 2 ATP are generated by fermentation. Calculate the efficiency (as a percentage) of fermentation compared to aerobic respiration.

a) 5.26%
b) 10.53%
c) 15.79%
d) 21.05%

Answer 1

The efficiency of fermentation compared to aerobic respiration is calculated by dividing 2 ATP from fermentation by 38 ATP from aerobic respiration and then multiplying by 100, resulting in an efficiency of 5.26%.

Step-by-step explanation:

To calculate the efficiency of fermentation compared to aerobic respiration, we must compare the amount of ATP generated by each process. Aerobic respiration typically generates 36 to 38 ATP molecules per glucose molecule, while fermentation generates only 2 ATP molecules. To get the efficiency percentage, we divide the ATP generated by fermentation (2 ATP) by the ATP generated by aerobic respiration (38 ATP) and then multiply the result by 100.

Efficiency = (ATP from fermentation / ATP from aerobic respiration) × 100

Efficiency = (2 / 38) × 100

Efficiency = 5.26%

Therefore, the correct answer is a) 5.26%.