Biological Redox and Bioenergetics

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to biological redox processes and bioenergetics.

Redox reactions

Chemical reactions involving the transfer of electrons between two species, leading to changes in oxidation states.

NAD+

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, an electron carrier involved in redox reactions that exists in oxidized form.

NADH

The reduced form of NAD+, which accepts electrons and plays a critical role in cellular metabolism.

Standard free energy change (∆G°)

A measure of the change in free energy during a chemical reaction occurring at standard conditions.

Oxidation state

The hypothetical charge an atom would have if all bonds to atoms of different elements were treated as ionic.

Citric Acid Cycle

A series of chemical reactions used by all aerobic organisms to generate energy through the oxidation of acetyl-CoA.

ATP hydrolysis

The process in which adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is broken down into adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and free phosphate, releasing energy.

Substrate level phosphorylation

A mechanism of ATP production in which high-energy phosphate groups from substrate molecules are transferred to ADP to form ATP.

Exergonic reaction

A reaction that releases energy, characterized by a negative change in free energy (∆G < 0).

Endergonic reaction

A reaction that absorbs energy, characterized by a positive change in free energy (∆G > 0).