5. What is meant by the term “carbon fixation”?
a. The release of CO2 from glucose during catabolism
b. The delivery of CO2 to an enzyme required for the production of glucose
c. The production of two 3-carbon molecules from one 6-carbon molecule
d. The production of a 4-carbon organic compound
e. The attachment of CO2 to an organic compound
To determine the correct answer and understand the term "carbon fixation," we can break down the options and analyze each one.
a. The release of CO2 from glucose during catabolism: This option describes a process opposite to carbon fixation. During catabolism, glucose is broken down, releasing CO2. Therefore, option a is not correct.
b. The delivery of CO2 to an enzyme required for the production of glucose: This option suggests the transportation of CO2 to an enzyme involved in glucose production. While CO2 is involved in glucose production, this doesn't accurately describe carbon fixation. Therefore, option b is not correct.
c. The production of two 3-carbon molecules from one 6-carbon molecule: This option describes a process called "glycolysis," where a 6-carbon glucose molecule is split into two 3-carbon molecules. It is not directly related to carbon fixation, so option c is not correct.
d. The production of a 4-carbon organic compound: This option doesn't accurately describe carbon fixation, so option d is not correct.
e. The attachment of CO2 to an organic compound: This option correctly describes carbon fixation. Carbon fixation is the process by which atmospheric CO2 is incorporated into an organic compound, usually by attaching CO2 to another molecule. This is essential for plants and other autotrophs to convert inorganic carbon into organic molecules, particularly glucose, through processes like photosynthesis. Therefore, option e is correct.
In conclusion, the correct answer is e. The term "carbon fixation" refers to the attachment of CO2 to an organic compound.