Chapter 6: Energy, Enzymes, and Metabolism

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering essential concepts related to energy, enzymes, and metabolism as presented in Chapter 6.

Metabolism

The totality of an organism’s chemical reactions; an emergent property of life.

Catabolic Pathways

Pathways that release energy by breaking down complex molecules into simpler compounds.

Anabolic Pathways

Pathways that consume energy to build complex molecules from simpler ones.

Bioenergetics

The study of how energy flows through living organisms.

Kinetic Energy

Energy associated with motion.

Potential Energy

Energy that matter possesses because of its location or structure.

Thermodynamics

The study of energy transformations.

First Law of Thermodynamics

Energy can be transferred and transformed, but it cannot be created or destroyed; energy of the universe is constant.

Second Law of Thermodynamics

During every energy transfer or transformation, energy is unusable and is often lost as heat; increases the entropy of the universe.

Entropy

A measure of molecular disorder or randomness.

Free Energy (G)

Energy available to do work.

Exergonic Reaction

A reaction that proceeds with a net release of free energy and is spontaneous.

Endergonic Reaction

A reaction that absorbs free energy from its surroundings and is nonspontaneous.

ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate)

The cell's energy shuttle, composed of ribose, adenine, and three phosphate groups.

Phosphorylation

The transfer of a phosphate group to a molecule, such as a reactant.

Equilibrium in Metabolism

Cells are not in equilibrium; they maintain a constant flow of materials, never reaching equilibrium.

Energy Coupling

The use of an exergonic process to drive an endergonic one.

Hydrolysis of ATP

The process of breaking down ATP to release energy.

Phosphorylated Intermediate

A recipient molecule that has received a phosphate group from ATP.