Question

What is the Respiratory Quotient of Organic Acids?

Answer 1

Respiratory Quotient:

1. Another name is the respiratory ratio (RQ), which is the volume of carbon dioxide released to the volume of oxygen absorbed during respiration.
2. R.Q. is used to Estimate Fat and Carbohydrate Utilization, helps in the determination of respiration type,
3. Different biomolecules have different Respiratory Quotients.
4. R.Q. for carbohydrates is 1.0. lipids 0.7, Proteins 0.8
5. The Respiratory Quotient of organic acids is more than one, since organic acids contain a high amount of O₂, and hence they require less O₂ intake for respiration.
6. Example: malic acid has R.Q.1.33 (> 1)