Question

Match the substrates to their respiratory quotients.

• A. 0.7
• B. 0.9
• C. 1.33
• D. 1

Answer 1

Respiratory quotient or RQ value is the ratio of the volume of carbon dioxide evolved to that of oxygen consumed by an organism, tissue, or cell in a given time. RQ value for carbohydrates is one. For fats, RQ is less than 1, therefore tripalmitin would have an RQ value of 0.7. Proteins have an RQ value in the range of 0.8-0.9. The RQ value of organic acids is more than one, therefore malic acid has an RQ value of 1.33.