Glucose can be converted into ethanol, carbon dioxide and energy (usually in the form of heat).
Using chemical formulas, this can be illustrated as follows:
Glucose = Ethanol + Carbon Dioxide + Energy
C6H12O6 = 2C2H5OH + 2CO2 + Energy
From the periodic table:
molecular mass of carbon = 12 grams
molecular mass of oxygen = 16 grams
molecular mass of hydrogen = 1 gram
Therefore:
molar mass of glucose = 6(12) + 12(1) + 6(16) = 180 grams
molar mass of ethanol = 2(12) + 5(1) + 16 + 1 = 46 grams
molar mass of carbon dioxide = 1(12) + 2(16) = 44 grams
Based on the conversion equation, each one mole of glucose converts into two moles of ethanol and two moles of carbon dioxide.
Therefore, each 180 grams of glucose converts into 46 x 2 = 92 grams of ethanol and 44 x 2 = 88 grams of carbon dioxide in addition to energy.
To calculate the mass of ethanol and carbon dioxide produced from 200 grams of glucose, we will simply use cross multiplication as follows:
mass of ethanol = (200 x 92) / 180 = 102.2 grams
mass of carbon dioxide = (200 x 88) / 180 = 97.7 grams
Total mass of ethanol and carbon dioxide = 102.2 + 97.7 = 199.9 grams
