Energy Transformation and Metabolism Quiz

Energy and Reactions

• Potential energy is stored energy due to an object's position or state, such as a rock perched on a hill.
• An exergonic reaction releases energy, for example, the breakdown of glucose during cellular respiration.
• Endergonic reactions require energy input, such as photosynthesis, where light energy is absorbed to form glucose.

Enzymes

• Enzymes serve as biological catalysts that accelerate chemical reactions by lowering the activation energy required.
• They are specific to substrates and are vital for various metabolic processes.

Metabolic Pathways

• Anabolic pathways involve the synthesis of complex molecules from simpler ones, such as protein synthesis from amino acids.
• Catabolic pathways break down complex molecules into simpler ones, releasing energy, like glucose catabolism during glycolysis.

Thermodynamics

• The first law of thermodynamics states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed from one form to another.

Glycolysis

• The final product of glycolysis is pyruvate, which is produced from the breakdown of glucose.

Citric Acid Cycle

• The citric acid cycle, also known as the Krebs cycle, occurs in the mitochondria and is crucial for producing energy carriers such as NADH and FADH2 from acetyl-CoA.

Cellular Respiration

• Anaerobic respiration occurs in the absence of oxygen and produces less energy than aerobic respiration, which requires oxygen for efficient energy production.
• Lactic acid fermentation, a type of anaerobic respiration, occurs in muscle cells and some bacteria, producing lactic acid as a byproduct.

Summary of Processes

• Aerobic respiration involves the complete oxidation of glucose in the presence of oxygen, generating ATP, carbon dioxide, and water.
• Anaerobic respiration leads to energy production without oxygen, resulting in byproducts like lactic acid or ethanol, depending on the organism.