Understanding the Nutrition in Our Food

Stoichiometry is a helpful way to learn about the nutrition in our food. It helps us understand what makes up different foods, like carbs, proteins, and fats.

Let’s Break It Down

• What is in Glucose? Glucose is a type of sugar that our bodies use for energy. Its formula is $C_6H_{12}O_6$. This means that each molecule of glucose has:

  • 6 carbon (C) atoms
  • 12 hydrogen (H) atoms
  • 6 oxygen (O) atoms

• Energy from Glucose: We can figure out how much energy glucose gives us. When glucose burns, it reacts with oxygen. The reaction looks like this:

  $C_6H_{12}O_6 + 6O_2 \rightarrow 6CO_2 + 6H_2O + \text{energy}$

  This means when glucose combines with oxygen, it creates carbon dioxide and water while releasing energy.

• How Much Energy in 1 Gram? We can also find out how many calories we get from 1 gram of glucose. Glucose has a molar mass of 180 grams per mole. This means when we eat just 1 gram of glucose, it gives us about 4 calories.

By using stoichiometry, we can make better choices about what we eat and understand the nutrition in our meals!