The heat of combusion of glycogen is about `476 kJ mol^(-1)` of carbon. Assume that average heat loss by an adult male is `150W`. If we were to assume that all the heat comes from oxidation of glycogen, how many units of glycogen `(1mol` carbon per unit) must be oxidised per day to provide for this heat loss?

Answer

27.22 units

Explanation

Total energy required in the day
`= (150 xx 24 xx 60 xx 60)/(1000) kJ` (1 watt = J/sec) = 12960 kJ
Unit of glycogen required `= (12960)/(476) = 27.22` units.