Metabolism and Energy Conversion

Flashcards covering key terms and definitions related to metabolism and energy conversion in living organisms.

Metabolism

The total sum of chemical processes that occur in living organisms to maintain life.

Cellular Respiration

A set of metabolic reactions that turns food molecules into energy and waste products.

ATP

A compound consisting of an adenosine molecule bonded to three phosphate groups; when the bonds are broken, it releases energy for the cell.

Mitochondria

The organelle responsible for the conversion of food energy into ATP, called cellular respiration.

Glucose

A simple sugar that is an important energy source in living organisms and is a component of many carbohydrates.

Pyruvate

A three carbon chain that is the result of breaking down glucose during glycolysis.

Glycolysis

The breakdown of glucose in the cytoplasm of the cell, creating pyruvate and energy.

Krebs Cycle

Reactions by which most living cells generate energy in the mitochondrial matrix; it consumes pyruvate and creates energy while producing carbon dioxide as a waste product.

Electron Transport Chain

The consumption of oxygen in the inner membrane of the mitochondria to create ATP, while producing water as a waste product.

Photosynthesis

The process in which green plants use light energy to create chemical energy (glucose) in their chloroplasts.

Light-Dependent Reactions

First step of photosynthesis that requires light to create oxygen and occurs in the thylakoids of chloroplasts.

Light Independent Reactions

Next step of photosynthesis that uses carbon dioxide and occurs in the stroma of chloroplasts to create glucose.

Chloroplast

The organelle responsible for the conversion of light energy into chemical energy, called photosynthesis.

Light Energy

The only form of energy we can see directly; in the process of photosynthesis, this is from the sun.

Chemical Energy

A type of energy stored in matter; in photosynthesis and cellular respiration, it is stored in glucose and food.

Synthesis

The production of chemical compounds from simpler molecules.

Anaerobic Respiration

The inefficient process of synthesizing few ATP molecules when oxygen is absent.

Aerobic Respiration

The more efficient process of synthesizing many ATP molecules when oxygen is present.

Heterotroph

Organisms that obtain chemical energy by eating other organisms.

Autotroph

Organisms that can create their own chemical energy using sunlight.

Fermentation

Anaerobic process that allows glycolysis to continue making ATP when oxygen is absent; there are two types: lactic acid and alcoholic.

Chemosynthesis

A process that allows chemical energy to still be created when light is absent; similar to photosynthesis.