AP Bio Unit 3 Vocabulary Review

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and definitions related to thermodynamics, photosynthesis, respiration, and cellular metabolism.

1st Law of Thermodynamics

States that the total amount of energy in the universe is constant; energy cannot be created or destroyed, but it can be transformed and transferred.

2nd Law of Thermodynamics

All energy transfers involve the loss of some amount of energy in an unusable form such as heat, resulting in entropy; entropy of a system is always increasing.

Absorption Spectrum

Range of wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation absorbed by a given substance.

Acetyl CoA

Combination of an acetyl group derived from pyruvic acid and coenzyme A.

Activation Energy

Energy necessary for reactions to occur.

Active Site

Specific region of the enzyme to which the substrate binds.

ADP

A lower-energy molecule that can be converted into ATP by the addition of a phosphate group.

Aerobic Respiration

Process in which organisms convert energy in the presence of oxygen.

Alcoholic Fermentation

Glycolysis followed by the reduction of pyruvate to ethyl alcohol, regenerating NAD+ and releasing carbon dioxide.

Allosteric Inhibition

Inhibition by a binding event at a site different from the active site.

Allosteric Site

An alternate part of the enzyme that can bind to non–substrate molecules.

Anabolic

Pathways that require an input of energy to synthesize complex molecules from simpler ones.

Anaerobic Respiration

Process in which organisms convert energy for their use in the absence of oxygen.

ATP

Adenosine triphosphate, the cell’s energy currency.

ATP Synthase

Membrane-embedded protein complex that adds a phosphate to ADP with energy from protons.

Calvin Cycle

Light-independent reactions of photosynthesis that convert carbon dioxide into carbohydrates.

Carbon Dioxide

A gas expelled from the body by the respiratory system.

Catabolic

Pathways in which complex molecules are broken down into simpler ones.

Catalyst

A substance that speeds up a chemical reaction without being consumed in the process.

Cellular Respiration

The metabolic process by which cells convert glucose into usable energy (ATP).

Chemiosmosis

Process of ATP production involving a proton gradient across a membrane.

Chlorophyll

Green pigment that captures light energy for photosynthesis.

Chloroplast

Organelle in which photosynthesis takes place.

Coenzyme

Small organic molecule required to enhance the activity of an enzyme.

Competitive Inhibition

Type of inhibition where the inhibitor competes with the substrate for the active site.

Electron Transport Chain

Group of proteins that pass energized electrons to generate ATP.

Endergonic Reaction

A nonspontaneous reaction in which free energy is absorbed.

Exergonic Reaction

A spontaneous reaction in which there is a net release of energy.

Fermentation

Process of regenerating NAD+ in absence of oxygen.

Glycolysis

Process of breaking glucose into two three-carbon molecules.

Krebs Cycle

Series of enzyme-catalyzed reactions central to cell metabolism.

Light Reactions

Reactions of photosynthesis that convert light energy to chemical energy.

Metabolism

All the chemical reactions that occur inside cells.

NAD+

A coenzyme that acts as an electron carrier.

Photosynthesis

Series of reactions using CO2, water, and light energy to produce glucose.

Proton (H+)

Positively charged particle residing in the nucleus of an atom.

Pyruvate

Three-carbon sugar that can be converted into acetyl CoA.

Ribulose Biphosphate

Five-carbon compound that combines with CO2 in the Calvin cycle.

Stoma

Opening that regulates gas exchange between leaves and the environment.

Substrate Level Phosphorylation

Production of ATP using the excess energy from a chemical reaction.

Wavelength

Distance between consecutive points of equal position in a wave.