One cell at work may break down 2 million (2 000 000) ATP molecules in one second. Some researchers estimate that the human body has about 10¹³ cells. (18.1)


b. If ATP has a molar mass of 507 g/mole, how many grams of ATP are hydrolyzed in one day?

Verified step by step guidance

1. Calculate the number of ATP molecules hydrolyzed by one cell in one day.
2. Multiply the number of ATP molecules hydrolyzed by one cell in one day by the total number of cells in the human body to find the total number of ATP molecules hydrolyzed in one day.
3. Convert the total number of ATP molecules hydrolyzed in one day to moles using Avogadro's number (6.022 x 10^23 molecules/mole).
4. Use the molar mass of ATP (507 g/mole) to convert the number of moles of ATP hydrolyzed to grams.
5. Summarize the process to ensure understanding: calculate daily ATP hydrolysis per cell, scale up to the whole body, convert to moles, and then to grams.

Key Concepts

ATP Hydrolysis

ATP hydrolysis is the process by which adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is broken down into adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and inorganic phosphate, releasing energy. This reaction is crucial for cellular processes, as it provides the energy needed for various biochemical reactions in the body.

Molar Mass

Molar mass is the mass of one mole of a substance, expressed in grams per mole (g/mol). For ATP, the molar mass is 507 g/mol, which allows us to convert between the number of moles and the mass of ATP when calculating how much is used in biological processes.

Cellular Quantity and Scale

Understanding the scale of cellular activity is essential for this problem. With approximately 10¹³ cells in the human body, and each cell hydrolyzing 2 million ATP molecules per second, we can calculate the total ATP usage across all cells, which is necessary for determining the total mass of ATP hydrolyzed in a day.