Explain5 marksStandard
A student uses a calorimeter to measure the energy released from the complete oxidation of 1 g of glucose (a carbohydrate) and 1 g of a typical lipid (triglyceride). The lipid releases about 39 kJ, while glucose releases about 16 kJ.
Explain why lipids provide more energy per gram than carbohydrates, and describe how the energy released from their oxidation is used to synthesise ATP, which then serves as the universal energy currency for cellular processes such as active transport and anabolic reactions.