5 reactions of life

Question 1

describe redox reactions and give examples

Answer 1

OIL = Oxidation Is Loss of electrons
RIG = Reduction Is Gain of electrons

example of this is when glucose is made into pyruvate
NAD+ is being reduced into NADH as it has gained electrons and lost its positive charge
NADH is then reduced when pyruvate is changed into lactate

in this scenario, NADH is a reducing agent as it becomes oxidised

NAD+ is a oxidising agent as it reduces to NADH and gains electrons and loses its positive charge

Question 2

what is the process called when breaking and making c-c bonds

Answer 2

Breaking bonds - Glycolysis
making bonds - Gluconeogensis

Question 3

describe condensation and hydrolysis and what subunits use these processes

Answer 3

condensation is when two smaller molecules combine to make a larger molecule, this process releases water.

hydrolysis - is the breaking of a large molecule into smaller units using water

subunits of proteins, nucleic acids are joined by condensation and broken by hydrolysis