9.69

[Jade Fosburgh Discussion 2C]

In the textbook, this problem encompasses the formation of ATP and how much Gibbs free energy can be released based on 3.00 mols of NADH, which is appears in a separate reaction.

I am trying to follow along in the solutions manual. I understand why they multiply the second reaction by 3, since the question calls for 3.00 mols of NADH, but am confused on why they also multiply the 3rd reaction by 3 as well.

Thank you!

[Jade Fosburgh Discussion 2C]

Is it because the second reaction, when using 3 mol NADH, produces 6 e-'s? Therefore the third reaction must be multiplied by 3 to also get 6 electrons?

[Cassandra Mullen 1E]

Yes, you are trying to cancel out the electrons to balance out the overall reaction of oxidizing 3 mol of NADH. Since the 2nd and 3rd equations are already balanced, you can also add the ∆Gs, which would correspond to 1 mol of NADH, and then multiply by 3 to get the ∆G value for 3.00 mol of NADH.