Biochemistry Basic Principles

Question 1

What are the common reactions in biomolecules?

Answer 1

phosphorylation, de-phosphorylation, acylation, carboxylation, esterification

Question 2

What are the oxidation states of carbon?

Answer 2

alkane –> alcohol –> aldehyde –> carboxylic acid –> carbon dioxide

Question 3

What are common groups found in biological molecules?

Answer 3

methyl, methylene, amino, amide, carboxyl, esters, carbonyl, aldehydes, phosphates

Question 4

what is the first law of thermodynamics?

Answer 4

energy is neither created nor destroyed; when energy is converted from one form to another, the total energy before and after the conversion is the same.

Question 5

what is the second law thermodynamics?

Answer 5

when energy is converted from one form to another, some of that energy becomes unavailable to do work i.e. no energy transformation is 100% efficient

Question 6

what is enthalpy?

Answer 6

heat content

Question 7

What is entropy?

Answer 7

randomness and disorder; unless energy is applied to a system it will tend towards disorder

Question 8

what are exergonic reactions?

Answer 8

total free energy of the products is less than the total free energy of the reactants and thus ∆G is negative

Question 9

What are endergonic reactions?

Answer 9

when the free energy of the products is more than the free energy of the reactants thus ∆G is positive

Question 10

what is ∆G is related to?

Answer 10

related to the point of equilibrium; the further towards completion, the more free energy is released.