Chapter 6.2, Problem 1CSC

Energy Unleashed

Marathoners rely on glycogen stored in their muscles and liver for much of the energy to power their run. Glycogen consists of long, branched chains of glucose molecules. When energy is needed, glucose molecules are cleaved from the chain and then broken down into carbon dioxide and water. This exergonic reaction generates the chemical energy in ATP that will power muscle contraction. The carbon dioxide is exhaled as the runners breathe rapidly to supply their muscles with adequate oxygen. The water generated by glucose breakdown (and a lot more that that runners drink during the race) is lost as cooing sweat.

The glucose molecules In muscle and other cells do not need to be ignited and do not literally bum as they are broken down, so how do cells provide activation energy and control the release of chemical energy to allow it to do work?