2007-11-25 07:59:29 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
The chemical rection to produce energy at a celullar level involves oxygen and glucose reacting to produce carbon dioxide and water as below. This means that the glucose is oxidised and an electron is transfered (this electron transfer is crucial).. nitrogen cannot do this.
C6H12O6 (aq) + 6O2 (g) → 6CO2 (g) + 6H2O (l) ΔHc -2880 kJ
2007-11-25 08:10:46 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
That's a bit like asking, "if most of the air is nitrogen, why don't fires burn nitrogen instead of oxygen."
In other words, just because a molecule is abundant doesn't make is useful for reactions that produce energy..
2007-11-25 16:40:13 · answer #2 · answered by secretsauce 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Don't know your beliefs as far as evolution. But I believe that the world did not have any or very little oxygen in it's atmosphere to start the beginning of Human and other species to evolve. I believe in the big bang theory as it did something to produce a reaction producing more oxygen. At this time or as they say when the oceans began to rust did human life begin. It was the oxygen which started the cycle because that is what was needed by humans at the beginning to start life and keep it goind today.
2007-11-25 16:18:01 · answer #3 · answered by Bill 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Nitrogen gas isn't very reactive, and its reactions don't release energy. Oxygen is reactive. We capture the energy from reacting oxygen with glucose.
You'll notice that fires which burn spontaneously use oxygen, not nitrogen.
2007-11-25 16:21:09 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Oxygen is used at a cellular level to create energy.
We *do* breathe about 70% nitrogen, and have evolved to do so (just ask a fish!) We just don't use it.
2007-11-25 16:06:46 · answer #5 · answered by ? 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Nitrogen is a triple-bonded molecule and, as such, is usually VERY stable reluctant to react with ANYTHING (hence its use in inert atmospheres such as food containers). Atmospheric nitrogen need extreme conditions to react spontaneously (heat or arcs/sparks).
Oxygen is only double-bonded, and is much more inclined to react at standard conditions (i.e. those in which life exists).
2007-11-25 19:21:40 · answer #6 · answered by appleton_strings 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
We humans breath in Oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide whereas plants absorb carbon dioxide and give off oxygen - a clean swap. Perhaps that's why we've evolved the way we have.
2007-11-25 16:13:44 · answer #7 · answered by tattyhead65 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Evolution is constrained by what's possible. It simply isn't possible to "breathe" nitrogen - it doesn't react in the right way to give energy.
2007-11-25 16:15:13 · answer #8 · answered by Daniel R 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
nitrogen does not carry energy like oxygen so we could not evolve that way.
2007-11-25 16:03:59 · answer #9 · answered by j_emmans 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
because inhaling nitrogen is like inhaling nothing, it isnt much use in reactions which would be any use for respiration.
2007-11-25 16:06:35 · answer #10 · answered by Dirk Wellington-Catt 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋