Question

What is the normal respiratory quotient?

Answer 1

Respiratory quotient:

1. The process by which the respiratory substrate is broken down to release energy is known as respiration.
2. The respiratory quotient (R.Q.) is also known as the respiratory ratio.
3. It is defined as the ratio of carbon dioxide to oxygen utilized during the respiration process i.e., RQ = CO_{2 produced} / O_{2 consumed}
4. It is employed in the estimation of basal metabolic rate from carbon dioxide generation to oxygen absorption.
5. The respiratory quotient is determined by the kind of respiratory substrate employed during breathing.
6. Respirometer is the instrument used to calculate Respiratory Quotient.

Normal respiratory quotient:

R.Q. (Respiratory quotient) normally varies between 0.7 and 1.0.