Chapter 4 Flashcards
Kinetic energy
The energy of motion
Potential energy
stored energy
Thermodynamics
The study of the energy flow during chemical and physical reactions.
Entropy
Disorder in thermodynamics
Spontaneous reaction
Chemical or physical reaction that occurs without outside help
Enthalpy
Potential energy in a system
Endothermic
Reactions which absorb energy
Exothermic
Processes which release energy
Reactants
The atoms or molecules entering the reaction
Free energy (ΔG)
The energy in a system which is available to do work
Concentration gradient
The concentration difference that dives diffusion
Equilibrium
A state of balance between opposing factors that push a reaction in either direction
Exergonic reaction
Reaction that has a negative ‘Free Energy’ because it releases free energy
Endergonic reaction
Reaction that can be produced only if free energy is supplied
Catabolic pathway
Types of metabolic pathway in which energy is released by the breakdown of complex molecules to simpler compounds