Ch. 5 The Working Cell Flashcards
Energy
Capacity to perform work
- measured by how it affects matter
- makes change possible
- needed by all organism
Kinetic
Energy of motion
Potential
Stored energy
Chemical Energy
Energy used by living cells/organisms
- type of potential energy
Thermodynamics
Study of energy transformations
What is the 1st Law of Thermodynamics?
Conservation of energy. Total energy is constant. Not created or destroyed.
What is the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics?
Entropy increases. When energy is transformed, some is lost as heat.
What are the two types of chemical reaction?
Exergonic and Endergonic
Exergonic (exothermic)
Energy out. Bonds are broken and heat released by reactants.
Endergonic (endothermic)
Energy in. Bonds formed and energy is stored by products.
What is energy coupling?
Combining exothermic to then produce endothermic. One reaction provides energy for another reaction.
What are the three products of oxygen and glucose?
Water, carbon dioxide, and ATP.
Why don’t cells just use glucose?
Glucose is too big/too much and more than the body can handle (110 kcal/mole). ATP is more manageable (7.3 kcal/mole).
What is Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP)?
Universal energy currency for life. Made of adenine, ribose, and 3 phosphates.
Activation Energy (Ea)
Amount of energy required for chemical reactions to occur. Energy barrier that prevents spontaneous reactions.
What are catalysts?
Substance that speeds up chemical reactions by lowering Ea.
What is an enzyme?
A biological protein catalyst made fo amino acids. Increases the rate of a reaction but not altered by it, so reusable (reversible). Catalyzes one specific reaction determined by structure.
What is a substrate?
A reactant that enzyme works on. The molecule that will be altered as it binds to the activation site of an enzyme.
What three situations lead to denaturation?
pH concentration, salt concentration, and temperature.
What are two non-protein helps for enzymes?
Cofactors and coenzymes.
What are cofactors?
Inorganic substances such as minerals that help an enzyme catalyze a metabolic reaction.
What are coenzymes?
Organic substances such as vitamins that helps an enzyme catalyze a metabolic reaction.