concept 8.1: an organisms metabolism transforms matter and energy

define metabolism

the totality of an organisms chemical reactions

why does metabolism arise

metabolism arises from orderly interactions between molecules

define metabolic pathways

a specific molecule is altered in a series of steps to produce a product

what is an enzyme

a macromolecule that speeds up a specific reaction

define bioenergetics

the study of how energy flows through living organisms

what do catabolic pathways

release energy by breaking down complex molecules into simpler compounds

what is cellular respiration

the breakdown of glucose in the presence of O₂

is cellular respiration and example of a metabolic pathway or a catabolic pathway or an anabolic pathway

cellular respiration is catabolic

define anabolic pathways

consume energy to build complex molecules from simpler ones

is catabolic uphill or downhill reaction

catabolic is downhill because it releases energy to go towards a more stable form

is anabolic uphill or downhill reaction

anabolic pathways are uphill because they require energy to go towards a more unstable form

what do living things use to power the uphill reactions of anabolic pathways

they use energy from the downhill reactions of catabolic pathways

define energy

the capacity to cause change

what can energy be used to do

to do work such as moving matter against opposing forced such as gravity and friction

is the synthesis of protein from amino acids an example of anabolic, catabolic, or metabolic pathways

it is an example of anabolism

kinetic energy

energy associated with water

what is an example of kinetic energy

water going through dam and turning turbines

thermal energy

the kinetic energy associated with random movement of atoms or molecules

example of thermal energy

heat is thermal energy

potential energy

energy that matter possesses because of its location or structure

example of potential energy

water behind a dam possess energy because of its altitude above sea level

chemical energy

potential energy that is available for release in a chemical reaction

example of chemical energy

complex molecules, such as glucose, are high in chemical energy because energy is released as they are broken down to simpler products

why is it impossible to have 100% efficient transfer of energy

because all living organisms are open systems

thermodynamics

the study of energy transformations in a collection of matter

what is the difference between a open system and a closed system

in a closed system, the system is unable to exchange energy of matter with its surrounding and an open system is able to exchange energy

first law of thermodynamics

the energy of the universe is constant and energy can be transferred and transformed but it cannot be created or destroyed

what is the other name for the first law of thermodynamics

law of conservation of energy

second law of thermodynamics

during every every transfer or transformation, some energy id converted to thermal energy and lost as heat, becoming unavailable to do work

what increases following all energy transfer or transformation

every energy transfer or transformation increases the entropy (disorder) of the universe

entropy

a measure of molecular disorder or randomness

what is gibbs free energy

organized energy

what equation shows the change in free energy

ΔG = Gf - Gi

how do living organisms increase the disorder of their surroundings

living organisms increase the disorder through their metabolism

spontaneous process

occurs without energy input, increases entropy of the universe, can occur fast or slow

nonspontaneous process

processes that decrease entropy, and require input of energy

what do cells create ordered structures from

ordered structures are made from less organized starting material

in what form does energy enter and exit the ecosystem

energy enters as light from the sun and exits as heat produced from organisms

what is the only way the entropy of a system can decrease

entropy of a system can only decrease when the total entropy of the system and surroundings increases