Chapter 8: An Introduction to Metabolism Flashcards
Metabolism
- All of an organism’s chemical reactions
- Consisting of catabolic and anabolic pathways, which manage the material and energy resources of the organelles
Metabolic Pathway
Series of chemical reactions that either builds a complex molecule or breaks down a complex molecule to simpler molecules
Catabolic Pathway
A metabolic pathway that releases energy by breaking down complex molecules to simpler compounds
Anabolic Pathway
Metabolic pathway that consumes energy to synthesize a complex molecule from simpler molecules
Bioenergetics
- Overall flow and transformation of energy in an organism
- Study of how energy flows through organisms
Energy
The capacity to cause change, especially to do work
Kinetic Energy
The energy associated with the relative motion of objects
Thermal Energy
- Kinetic energy due to the random motion of atoms and molecules
- Energy in its most random form
Heat
Thermal energy in transfer from one body of matter to another
Potential Energy
The energy that matter possesses as a result of its location or spatial arrangement (structure)
Chemical Energy
- Energy available in molecules for release in a chemical reaction
- A form of potential energy
Thermodynamics
The study of energy transformations that occur in a collection of matter
First Law of Thermodynamics
- The principle of conservation of energy
- Energy can be transferred and transformed, but it cannot be created or destroyed
Entropy
A measure of disorder or randomness
Second Law of Thermodynamics
- The principle stating that every energy transfer or transformation increases the entropy of the universe
- Usable forms of energy are at least partly converted to heat