Ch. 8 Exam Flashcards
Define energy.
The capacity to cause change or perform work
Explain the two types of energy.
- Kinetic energy: energy of motion
- Movement
-Heat: kinetic energy of molecular motion - In cells, molecules are broken to obtain kinetic energy
- Movement
- Potential energy: energy of position or configuration
- In cells, potential energy is often stored in chemicals
Where do molecules store potential energy?
In chemicals
Explain the first law of thermodynamics.
Laws of thermodynamics govern energy conversions
- Matter and energy cannot be created or destroyed, and energy conversions increase entropy (disorder
- Molecules (fats and carbohydrates) store potential energy i their bonds (because electrons have potential energy
Explain the second law of thermodynamics.
- In cells, some reactions release energy whereas others take up energy.
- Free energy (deltaG) of a reaction is the amount of energy available to do work
- Exothermic reaction: releases heat energy
- Products have less potential energy than reactants
- Endothermic reaction: Heat energy is taken up
- Products have higher potential energy than reactants
During any energy conversion, some energy is “lost” as heat. Explain this phenomenon.
Define free energy.
- Free energy (deltaG) of a reaction is the amount of energy available to do work
Compare and contrast exothermic and endothermic reactions.
- Exothermic reaction: releases heat energy
- Products have less potential energy than reactants
- Endothermic reaction: Heat energy is taken up
- Products have higher potential energy than reactants
When the concentration of reactants is high, ____ (more/less) collisions should occur, and reactions should proceed more _______ (quickly/slowly).
- more
- quickly
Explain how energetic coupling works.
- Occurs between exergonic and endergonic reactions
- This allows chemical energy released from one reaction to drive another reaction
What transfers in a reduction—oxidation (redox) reaction?
- Chemical reactions that involve electron transfer
- Protons (H+) usually accompany an electron during its transfer
- Oxidation and reduction events are always coupled
-If one atom loses an electron, another has to gain it- Electron donors are always paired with electron acceptors
(Not a question, just information!) Oxidation and reduction events are coupled. If one atom loses an electron, another had to gain it. Thus, electron donors are always paired up with electron acceptors to keep the exchange equal.
Define and explain reduction.
- When an atom or molecule gains an electron
- “adds Hs)
- Occurs when molecules are assimilated
- Increases potential energy
Define and explain oxidation.
- When an atom or molecule loses an electron
- “remove Hs)
- Occurs when molecules are being broken up
- Loses potential energy
During a redox reaction, electrons can be used for two different purposes. List those purposes.
- Be transferred completely from one atom to another
- Be used to form different covalent bonds
What is reduced to form NADH? What is NADH’s function?
- Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+)
- NADH is a high energy electron carrier that has the ability to acquire, then donate electrons to other molecules
List three aspects of ATP (adenosine triphosphate).
- Has high potential energy and is used for most cellular activities
- Works by phosphorylating target molecules (transferring a PO4 3-)
- Have high potential energy because negative charges in its 3 phosphate groups repel each other
How does ATP work on target molecules?
Phosphorylating
Why do the electrons in ATP have high potential energy?
Negative charges in its 3 phosphate groups repel each other
What is ATP hydrolysis important for?
For transport contraction and energy for enzymes to catalyze chemical reactions
Define enzyme. Why are they important?
- Protein catalysts that facilitate specific chemical reactions within a cell
- Important because they speed up chemical reactions that are required for life
Define and explain anabolism. Is anabolism endergonic or exergonic?
- Refers to chemical reactions that build smaller molecules into larger molecules
- Dehydration reactions
- Endergonic
- They require an input of energy
- The larger product molecules are more ordered and therefore have more potential energy than the smaller reactant molecules
Define and explain catabolism. Is catabolism endergonic or exergonic?
- Refers to chemical reactions that break down larger molecules into smaller molecules
-Hydrolysis - exergonic
- They release energy
- The smaller products molecules are less ordered and therefor have less potential energy than the larger reactant molecules
- Although catabolic reactions are exergonic, they do not occur spontaneously
Where do substrates bind in an enzyme?
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