Define RQ. What is its value for fats ?

Explanation

Respiratory quotient (R.Q) is the ratio of the volume of carbon dioxide released to the volume of oxygen taken in respiration in the given period of time at standard temperature and pressure.
R.Q. = `("Volume of "CO_(2)"evolved")/("Volume of " CO_(2) "absorbed")`
When fats are respiratory substrates, as in case during germination of fatty seeds (e.g., ground nut, mustard, flax, castor, etc. ), the fats are hydrolysed to glycerol and fatty acids. The complete oxidation of glycerol results in the RQ of 0.86. The fatty acids, being poorer in oxygen, require more `O_(2)` for complete oxidation as compared to `CO_(2)`. Therefore, `O_(2)` absorption is more and `CO_(2)` liberation is less and the RQ becomes less than unity.