Respiratory Quotient (RQ)
The respiratory quotient or respiratory ratio is the proportion of oxygen consumed to the carbon dioxide exhaled during breathing. RQ value is influenced by the oxidation of respiratory substrates.
RQ = (Volume OF CO2 Eliminated)/(Volume of O2 Consumed)
Respiratory Ratio sometimes referred to as Respiratory Quotient, is abbreviated as RQ. It is defined as the proportion of carbon dioxide released during respiration to oxygen received over the same period and weight at a constant temperature and pressure. In the respiration process, the respiratory substrate is broken down to liberate energy. The two basic forms of respiration that take place in the presence or absence of molecular oxygen are aerobic and anaerobic respiration. The most prevalent respiratory substrate in plants is glucose.
Respiratory Quotient Meaning
O2 is ingested and CO2 is exhaled during aerobic respiration. The respiratory quotient is the ratio of the quantity of O2 used for respiration to the amount of CO2 evolved (R.Q.). An equipment called a respirometer is used to measure both R.Q. and the rate of breathing. A diet with a mixture of carbs, lipids, and proteins has an R.Q. of around 0.85.
Respiratory Quotient
All living things can create the energy they need to survive through a series of chemical processes known as respiration. Air travels between the tissues and cells of the species and the outside environment through a biochemical process. Carbon dioxide gas is exhaled and oxygen is inhaled during respiration. A metabolic process occurs when an organism converts nutrients into energy and releases waste in the process.