2.3 Energy Transformations

Energy

The capacity to do work, cannot be created nor destroyed, stored in covalent bonds, larger molecules have more bonds which mean more energy, examples include induced fit and active transport.

Autotroph

Organisms that make their own food and transform light into chemical energy, using food to release energy.

Heterotroph

Organisms that consume other organisms to obtain energy.

Rate of photosynthesis

Higher rate leads to more oxygen release compared to aerobic respiration; higher respiration rate results in more CO2 release.

Photosynthesis

Metabolic reaction requiring O2, sunlight provides energy for photosynthesis, transforming it into glucose/starch, involving water absorption, CO2 uptake, and internal membrane structures.

Photosynthesis limiting factors

Light intensity, CO2 concentration, temperature, and light color affect the rate of photosynthesis.

Aerobic respiration

Cellular process requiring oxygen, involving glycolysis, Krebs cycle, and oxidative phosphorylation to produce ATP.

Fermentation

Breakdown of glucose without oxygen, occurring in the cytosol after glycolysis, producing 2 ATP and either lactic acid or alcohol.

ADP

Adenosine diphosphate, combines with phosphate to form ATP, releasing a constant amount of free energy.

ATP

Adenosine triphosphate, stores energy in its phosphate bonds, used for cellular processes, converted from ADP by adding a phosphate group using energy from aerobic respiration.