Comprehensive Notes on Chemical Reactions in the Body

Chemical Reactions in the Body

Essential Chemical Reactions

• Living organisms carry out a series of chemical reactions within their bodies to survive.

Introduction

• The sum of all chemical reactions that take place inside a cell is called metabolism.
• Reactants: Chemicals that react with each other.
• Products: Chemicals that are made at the end of a reaction.

Metabolism

• Metabolism: Overall chemical reactions that occur in the body.
• Types of Metabolism:
  • Anabolism:
    • Build up of larger molecules from simpler molecules.
    • Energy is used (ATP is used).
  • Catabolism:
    • Breakdown of molecules into smaller or simpler ones.
    • Energy is produced (ATP is made).

What is ATP?

• ATP is the currency of the body.
• It is called adenosine triphosphate.
• This chemical represents energy.
• The formula for ATP is C{10}H{16}N5O{13}P_3.

How to Remember?

• Cat-abolism (Cat Breaks) - analogy of a cat breaking things to remember the breakdown of molecules.
• Ana-bolism (Ana Makes) - using the name 'Ana' as a reminder for building up molecules.

Importance of Metabolism

• Provides energy (e.g., respiration: breakdown of glucose into energy in the presence of oxygen).
• Converts one molecule to another essential molecule.
• Detoxification of harmful chemicals.

Why is Energy Made?

• To power different organs/systems within the body and successfully carry out all reactions within the body.
• Example: Electrical energy is made so that nerve impulses can send signals to the brain enabling tasting flavors.

Kinetic Particle Theory

• In metabolism, the most important energy is heat energy.
• Heat energy provides kinetic energy for molecules, so that reactant particles can move at a higher speed and collide successfully.
• As particles hit one another a chemical reaction occurs.
• If you increase the temperature, the speed of particles increases, and thus the rate of reactions.

Kinetic Particle Theory and Enzymes

• Enzymes also work based on kinetic particle theory.
• When the temperature increases, so does the movement of enzymes.
• They bind to their substrate and result in a chemical reaction.
• The higher the temperature, the better the reaction.

Warning!!!

• Kinetic Particle Theory Has Its Limit!
• If you increase the temperature beyond a certain limit, it denatures (destroys) chemical molecules, and the molecule is damaged.
• This results in minimum to no reaction, as molecules cannot bind!