Ch5 Flashcards

Energy

The capacity to do work and is changed from one form to another as life processes take place.

Kinetic Energy

Energy actively being used, such as the energy in mechanical processes.

Potential Energy

Stored energy waiting to be used.

Chemical Energy

Energy stored in chemical bonds, such as those found in food.

Calorie

The amount of heat it takes to raise the temperature of one gram of water by one degree Celsius.

Kilocalorie

Commonly used to measure food energy, equivalent to 1,000 calories.

Joule

The SI unit of energy, defined as the energy transferred when one newton of force is applied over a distance of one meter.

Conservation of Energy

The principle that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed.

Entropy

The measure of disorder in energy conversions, indicating that not all energy is usable.

Thermodynamics

Laws that govern energy flow and conversions.

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP)

The molecule used as the energy currency of cells for all cellular processes.

ATP Cycle

The continued breakdown and regeneration of ATP, where ADP is converted back to ATP.

Coupled Reactions

Reactions in which the energy released from one reaction is used to drive another reaction.

Metabolic/Biochemical Pathways

The sequence of chemical reactions in cells where the products of one reaction become the reactants for the next.

Enzymes

Proteins that aid in chemical reactions.

Activation Energy

The energy needed to start a reaction, which is lowered by the presence of enzymes.

Passive Transport

The transfer of material across the cell membrane not using ATP.

Diffusion

Movement across a membrane from high concentration to low concentration until equilibrium is achieved.

Facilitated Diffusion

Movement across a membrane using a channel or carrier protein.

Osmosis

The diffusion of water molecules through a selectively permeable membrane.

Active Transport

The transfer of material across the cell membrane using ATP, typically against the flow of diffusion.

Sodium Potassium Pump

The protein pump that moves Na+ out of the cell and K+ into the cell.

Exocytosis

The transport of macromolecules out of the cell using vesicles merging with the cell membrane.

Endocytosis

The transport of macromolecules into the cell when the cell membrane wraps around them.

What is energy?

Energy is the capacity to do work and is changed from one form to another as life processes take place.

What is the primary difference between kinetic and potential energy?

Kinetic energy is energy actively being used, such as in mechanical processes, while potential energy is stored energy waiting to be used.

What are the common units used to measure energy?

Common units include the calorie and kilocalorie (for heat and food energy), and the Joule, which is the SI unit of energy.

What is the principle of conservation of energy?

The principle of conservation of energy states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed from one form to another.

What is ATP and what is its role in cells?

ATP (Adenosine triphosphate) is the molecule used as the energy currency of cells for all cellular processes.

Briefly explain the ATP Cycle.

The ATP Cycle involves the continued breakdown of ATP to ADP (adenosine diphosphate) to release energy, and the subsequent regeneration of ADP back to ATP to store energy.

What is the function of enzymes in chemical reactions?

Enzymes are proteins that aid in chemical reactions by acting as catalysts.

How do enzymes affect activation energy?

Enzymes lower the activation energy, which is the energy needed to start a reaction, thus speeding up the reaction.

What is passive transport and what are its main types?

Passive transport is the transfer of material across the cell membrane without using ATP. Its main types include diffusion, facilitated diffusion, and osmosis.

How does active transport differ from passive transport?

Active transport requires the use of ATP to move materials across the cell membrane, typically against the flow of diffusion, whereas passive transport does not use ATP and moves materials down their concentration gradient.