Biochemistry and Thermodynamics

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts from biochemistry and thermodynamics as discussed in the lecture notes.

Potential Energy

Energy that is stored and has the capacity to do work when released.

Kinetic Energy

Energy of motion that causes change or work to be done.

Chemical Energy

Energy stored in the bonds of chemical compounds, like molecules, which can be released during reactions.

Metabolism

The sum of all chemical reactions that occur within a living organism to maintain life.

Catabolism

The metabolic pathway that breaks down molecules into smaller units to release energy.

Anabolism

The metabolic process that builds larger molecules from smaller ones, consuming energy in the process.

First Law of Thermodynamics

Energy cannot be created or destroyed; it can only be transformed from one form to another.

Second Law of Thermodynamics

In any energy transfer, some energy becomes unavailable for work, increasing the overall disorder or entropy of the universe.

Entropy

A measure of disorder or randomness in a system; it tends to increase over time in a closed system.

Free Energy

The portion of a system's energy that is available to perform work.

ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate)

The primary energy carrier in cells, which releases energy when its phosphate bonds are broken.

Enzyme

A biological catalyst that speeds up chemical reactions in cells without being consumed.

Hydrolysis

A chemical reaction where water is used to break down compounds, typically releasing energy.

Condensation Reaction

A chemical reaction where two molecules combine to form a larger molecule, often releasing water.

Active Transport

The movement of molecules across a membrane from a region of lower concentration to a region of higher concentration, requiring energy.

Gradient

A difference in concentration across a space, which can represent potential energy.

Glycolysis

The metabolic pathway that converts glucose into pyruvate, producing ATP and NADH.