Unit 3 Flashcards
Chapters 8-10 (79 cards)
Bioluminescence
Process in which some organisms convert energy to light
Metabolism
The totality of an organism’s chemical reactions that allow for work and functionality
Catabolism
Metabolic pathways that release energy by disassembling complex molecules and breaking bonds
Anabolism
Metabolic pathways that consume energy from the environment so they can build complex molecules from smaller ones
Bioenergetics
The study of how energy flows through living organisms
Energy
The capacity to cause change and perform work
Chemical Energy
The energy available for release from a chemical reaction
Thermodynamics
The study of energy transformation
Kinetic Energy
The energy associated with motion
Thermal Energy
The random movement of atoms/molecules as a type of kinetic energy
Potential Energy
The energy matter possesses because of location and structure
Spontaneous Processes
Reactions that occur without energy input and naturally increase the disorder of the universe
Entropy
Disorder
The First Law of Thermodynamics
Energy can be transferred and transformed, but it cannot be created nor destroyed
The Second Law of Thermodynamics
Every energy transfer increases the entropy of the universe
Enthalpy
The total energy of a system (often heat)
Free Energy
The measure of a system’s instability and the likelihood of atomic motion and interaction. Reactions occur in order to reach a more stable state
Equilibrium
The state of maximum systematic stability. Once equilibrium is reached, no more work can occur
Exergonic Reactions
Reactions that proceed with a net release of free energy, spontaneous, negative delta G
Endergonic Reactions
Reactions that absorb free energy from their surroundings, nonspontaneous, positive delta G
Energy Coupling
The cells’ use of exergonic processes to drive endergonic ones and conserve energy
Phosphorylation
The transfer of a phosphate group to another molecule which changes the shape and function as well as releases energy when the phosphate group “pops” off
Phosphorylated Intermediate
The bound inorganic phosphate to its recipient molecule during phosphorylation
Catalyst
A chemical agent that speeds up a reaction without being consumed, and instead can be used multiple times