5.10-5.15 Flashcards
Define Kinetic Energy
energy of motion.
Define thermal energy
kinetic energy having to do with the random movement of particles within a substance.
Define potential energy
energy that matter possesses based on its location or structure.
Define chemical energy
potential energy available for release in a chemical reaction.
Define thermodynamics
energy transformations that occur in a collection of matter.
1st Law of Thermodynamics?
The law of energy conversion. It cannot be created or destroyed.
System vs. Surroundings
see 5.10
Why can energy not be recycled?
It is converted to thermal energy (random molecular motion) and released as heat.
Define entropy
a measure of disorder/randomness (a thermodynamic quantity representing the unavailability of a system’s thermal energy for conversion into mechanical work)
Second Law of Thermodynamics
The more randomly arranged a collection of matter is, the greater its entropy,»_space; energy conversions increase the entropy of the universe«
What thing has a small amount of entropy.
a cell. See 5.10
Define exergonic reaction
Releases energy (“energy outward”)
Endergonic reactions
Require a net input of energy and yield products rich in potential energy.
Examples of exergonic reactions
Combustion, cellular respiration.
Examples of endergonic reactions
photosynthesis (converts to energy rich glucose from sun energy)
While both are exergonic reactions, what differs between cellular respiration and combustion.
Combustion releases its energy quickly, where cellular respiration lets it go in steps.
What are considered “energy poor” compounds?
H2O, O2, CO2…
What is one definition of metabolism?
All of an organism’s chemical reactions.
Define metabolic pathway
a series of chemical reactions that either builds complex molecule or breaks down a complex molecule into simpler compounds (anabolism vs. catabolism)
Define energy coupling.
the use of energy from exergonic reactions to drive endergonic reactions.
Where is energy coupling crucial?
In cells, specifically ATP.
Cellular respiration is an exergonic process. Remembering that energy must be conserved, what do you think becomes of the energy extracted from food during this process.
Some of it is stored in ATP molecules; the rest is released as heat.
ATP stands for
Adenosine triphosphate– essential to all cellular work. It is made up of adenosine and three phosphate groups.
What makes ATP like a “compressed spring”
the negatively charged phosphate tails are pushed together.