Question

question 8 (3 points) listen increasing concerns about dependence on fossil fuels has generated research and development of renewable fuels, such as ethanol. ethanol can be produced from grains (for example, corn) or from plant biomass (tree chips and sawdust, composted food waste, or paper products). the production of ethanol is an industrial application of fermentation studied in introductory biology laboratories. using information from your laboratory experiments, propose the components necessary for converting corn to ethanol. (consider reactants, products, and environmental conditions.) corn plants store energy as starch, which cannot enter the fermentation pathway directly. based on your knowledge of the molecular structure of starch, include components necessary to convert starch to simple sugars.

Explanation:

Corn contains starch. First, enzymes like amylase are needed to break down starch into simple sugars (glucose). Then, yeast is required for fermentation. Reactants are glucose and yeast, products are ethanol and carbon - dioxide. Optimal environmental conditions include anaerobic environment (lack of oxygen) and a suitable temperature range (around 30 - 37°C for yeast fermentation).

Answer:

Components for converting corn to ethanol: Enzymes (e.g., amylase) to break starch to sugars, yeast for fermentation. Reactants: Glucose, yeast. Products: Ethanol, carbon - dioxide. Environmental conditions: Anaerobic environment, temperature around 30 - 37°C. Components for converting starch to simple sugars: Enzymes like amylase.