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Simply by living, an 87.5-kg human being will consume approximately 20.0 mol of

ID: 989934 • Letter: S

Question

Simply by living, an 87.5-kg human being will consume approximately 20.0 mol of O_2 per day. To provide energy for the human, the O_2 is reduced to H_2O durning food oxidation by the following reaction: O_2 + 4H^+ + 4e^- 2H_2O Determine the current generated by the human per day. In this case, the current is defined as the flow of e^- to O_2 from the food the human consumes. Reduction of O_2 can occur by a donation of electrons from nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH). When this occurs, the electrons experience a potential drop of 1.00 V. Determine the power output from the 87.5-kg human.

Explanation / Answer

O2 + 4H+ + 4e-    ----------------> 2 H2O

moles of electrons = 4 x moles of O2

                               = 4 x 20

                               = 80.0 mol

charge = moles of electrons x faraday constant

            = 80 x 96485

            = 7718800 C

current = charge / time

             = 7718800 / 24 x 3600

              = 89.34 amperes

current = 89.3 Amp

power = current x potential drop

           = 89.34 x 1.00

power = 89.34 W

power= 89 W