Metabolism Flashcards
What’s metabolism?
Totality of an organisms total reactions.
Metabolic pathway how it begins
Begins with a specific molecule, a reactant, which is altered in a series of chemical reaction steps, resulting in a certain product.
Each step is catalyzed by a specific enzyme
catabolic pathways
Catabolic pathways release energy by breaking down complex molecules into simpler compounds
EX) Cellular respiration
Anabolic pathways
Anabolic Pathways consume energy to build complex molecules from simpler ones. the synthesis of amino acids is an example of anabolism.
Bioenergetics
It is the study of how organisms manage their energy resources.
Kinetic energy
an energy associated with motion
Heat (thermal energy)
Is kinetic energy associated with random movement of atoms or molecules
Potential energy
Energy that matter possesses because of its location or structure.
Chemical energy
Potential energy available for release in a chemical reaction
Thermodynamics
the study of the energry transformations that occur in a collection of matter, or organisms.
First Law of Thermodynamics (the law of conservation of energy )
States that energy of the universe is constant: Energy can be transferred and transformed, but it cannot be created or destroyed.
First law of thermodynamics example
Plants are not energy producers they are energy transformers. They transform light energy into chemical energy.
The Second law of thermodynamics
In every energy transformation some energy becomes available to do the work and other energy unavailable or lost.
Work is Gibb’s Free Energy
Gibb’s Free Energy Neg -
When ^G is negative the system will do work on he surroundings and is spontaneous
Ex combustion of octane in a car releases enough energy to move the piston
Gibb’s Free Energy Pos+
When Positive system needs to do work on the system and is not spontaneous
EX) H20 (g) -> H20 (l) the surrounding pressure on the gaseous water must be increased or the surrounding temp must be decreased so water can turn from gas to liquid
Release of Heat
in most transformations energy is converted into heat and in a living cell heat cannot be used to do work it is only used to warm the organism.
Enthalpy
Heat absorbed or released
Enthalpy Neg-
System will release heat energy and is exothermic or exergonic
Enthalpy Pos+
System will absorb heat energy and is endothermic or endergonic
First Law of Thermodynamics
The net energy changes of the universe increase the net entropy of the universe
No process of energy transformation is ever 100% efficient; some energy will always be lost in the form of heat
Metabolism
the sum of all chemical reactions that occur in a cell or organism; metabolism manages the material and energy resources of the cell.
chemical work
pushing of endergonic reactions that would not occur spontaneously, such as building polymers from monomers.
Transport work
the pumping of substances across a membrane against the direction of spontaneous movement
mechanical work
cellular processes that requires movement; beating of cilia, the contraction of muscles
