TRICKY ONES

⚡ 1. REDOX (THE #1 TRAP)

• Oxidation = LOSS of electrons

• Reduction = GAIN of electrons

👉 In respiration:

• Glucose = oxidized

• Oxygen = reduced

👉 In photosynthesis:

• H₂O = oxidized

• CO₂ = reduced

⸻

🌬 2. OXYGEN (THE BIG ONE)

👉 O₂ = FINAL electron acceptor

🚨 If oxygen is missing:

• ETC stops FIRST

• Then ATP drops

• Then everything else slows

⸻

🌊 3. GRADIENT QUESTIONS (VERY COMMON)

👉 ALWAYS pick:

✔ Unequal distribution = energy

❌ Equal = no energy

👉 Think:

• Gradient = stored (potential) energy

• Flow = usable (kinetic) energy

⸻

⚙ 4. ATP QUESTIONS (SNEAKY WORDING)

👉 ATP hydrolysis = releases energy (EXERGONIC)

👉 ATP synthesis = requires energy

🚨 MOST ATP:

✔ Oxidative phosphorylation (ETC)

⸻

🧬 5. DNA DIRECTION (ALWAYS SHOWS UP)

• Built: 5’ → 3’

• Read: 3’ → 5’

• Added to: 3’ end

⸻

🧫 6. MEMBRANE QUESTIONS (EASY POINTS)

✔ Hydrophobic = tails

✔ Hydrophilic = heads

✔ Cross easily:

• Small, nonpolar (O₂, CO₂)

❌ Need help:

• Ions (Na⁺, Cl⁻)

• Large molecules (glucose)

⸻

🚪 7. TRANSPORT TRAPS

• Passive = no ATP

• Active = requires ATP

👉 Against gradient = ACTIVE

⸻

🔋 8. NADH / FADH₂

👉 Their job:

✔ Carry electrons to ETC

🚨 If they don’t work:

→ No gradient → No ATP

⸻

🔁 9. METABOLIC PATHWAYS

👉 If enzyme is blocked:

✔ Final product ↓

✔ Stuff builds up before the block

⸻

🍃 10. PHOTOSYNTHESIS vs RESPIRATION

👉 Photosynthesis:

• Stores energy

• Reduces CO₂

👉 Respiration:

• Releases energy

• Oxidizes glucose

⸻

🧈 11. LIPIDS (FAST POINTS)

• NOT polymers

• Hydrophobic

• Unsaturated = double bonds = bends = more fluid