Net gain of ATP molecules , during aerobic respiration , is

Options

A. 40 molecules
B. 48 molecules
C. 36 molecules
D. 38 molecules

Answer

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Understanding Aerobic Respiration**:
- Aerobic respiration is a biological process where glucose (C6H12O6) is converted into energy in the presence of oxygen.

2. **Chemical Equation**:
- The overall reaction for aerobic respiration can be represented as:
\[ \text{C}_6\text{H}_{12}\text{O}_6 + 6 \text{O}_2 \rightarrow 6 \text{CO}_2 + 6 \text{H}_2\text{O} + \text{Energy (ATP)} \]

3. **ATP Production**:
- During aerobic respiration, a total of 38 molecules of ATP are produced from one molecule of glucose.

4. **ATP Usage in Glycolysis**:
- However, during the glycolysis phase (the first step of aerobic respiration), 2 ATP molecules are consumed.

5. **Calculating Net Gain**:
- To find the net gain of ATP, we subtract the ATP used in glycolysis from the total ATP produced:
\[ \text{Net Gain of ATP} = \text{Total ATP Produced} - \text{ATP Used in Glycolysis} = 38 - 2 = 36 \]

6. **Conclusion**:
- Therefore, the net gain of ATP molecules during aerobic respiration is **36 ATP molecules**.