Energy and Chemical Reactions

These flashcards cover fundamental concepts related to energy types, thermodynamics, metabolism, and chemical reactions.

Kinetic Energy

The energy of motion.

Potential Energy

Stored energy that can be converted into kinetic energy.

Chemical Energy

Energy stored in the bonds of chemical compounds, often released during chemical reactions.

First Law of Thermodynamics

Energy cannot be created or destroyed, only converted from one form to another.

Second Law of Thermodynamics

Energy transformations are not 100% efficient and increase the entropy of the universe.

Entropy

A measure of disorder or randomness in a system, which increases during energy transformations.

Metabolism

The sum of all chemical reactions that occur within a cell.

Catabolism

The process of breaking down molecules to release energy.

Anabolism

The process of building larger molecules from smaller ones, requiring energy.

Free Energy (Delta G)

The amount of energy available to do work in a system, calculated by the change in free energy during a reaction.

Exergonic Reaction

A spontaneous reaction that releases energy, indicated by a negative delta G.

Endergonic Reaction

A non-spontaneous reaction that requires energy input, indicated by a positive delta G.

ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate)

The primary energy carrier in cells, produced through metabolic processes.