Table 1. Stoichiometry of aerobic complete oxidation of selected compounds.

Compound	Chemical equation	CO2 produced	O2 consumed	RQ
Methane	CH4+2 O2 → CO2+2 H2O	1	2	0.50
Palmitic acid	C16H32O2+23 O2 → 16 CO2+16 H2O	16	24	0.70
Glucose	C6H12O6+6 O2 → 6 H2O+6 CO2	6	6	1.00
Pyruvic acid	C3H4O3+2.5 O2 → 2 H2O+3 CO2	3	2.5	1.20
Citric acid	C6H8O7+4.5 O2 → 4 H2O+6 CO2	6	4.5	1.33
Tartaric acid	C4H6O6+2.5 O2 → 3 H2O+4 CO2	4	2.5	1.60
Oxalic acid	C2H2O4+0.5 O2 → 1 H2O+2 CO2	2	0.5	4.00

Abbreviation: RQ, respiratory quotient.