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Q: Why are endergonic and exergonic reactions are said to be coupled in living cells?
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What determines how much energy is available in a molecule?

This is related to the Gibbs free energy: G = H —TS (where, H is the enthalpy, T is the absolute temperature, and S is the entropy), that is the required indicator of spontaneity for constant temperature and pressure processes. For systems that can only do pressure - volume work (w' = 0), Gibbs free energy equation can be expressed as: DG = DH — TDS = qp — TDS (where, qp is the heat transferred at constant pressure). Now, a spontaneous process is that one with negative DG value and is said to be "exergonic" and it can be utilized to do work. A process that is not spontaneous, that one with positive DG value is called "endergonic" and it must be driven by the input of free energy. Those processes that are at equilibrium (when the forward and the backward reactions are exactly balanced) are characterized by a DG = 0. From above considerations, the endergonic processes that maintain the living state are driven by the exergonic reactions of nutrient oxidation. Living organisms are not at equilibrium. Rather, they require a continuous influx of free energy to maintain order in a universe bent of maximizing disorder. They do so by coupling the exergonic processes required to maintain the living state such as the performance of mechanical work, the active transport of molecules against concentration gradients, and the biosynthesis of complex molecules. The key is to know "how much free energy carry a particular molecule" in order to carry out a work. This can be achieved measuring the "free energy" of a given intermediate molecule whose exergonic consumption drives endergonic processes. In other words, to determine how much "energy" carries a particular molecule, we have to measure its DG value.


What are the reactions that deal with energy in a living thing referred to as?

what are the reactions that deal with energy in a living thign referred to as


Chains of chemical reactions in living organisms are called?

Bio-chemical reactions.


Do Chemical reactions only occur in living organisms?

No


The main source of energy for reactions that occur in all living organisms?

Atp

Related questions

How does energy become stored in ATP?

In biology, the ATP molecule has the role of "universal energy currency" of living organisms. This can be explained in thermodynamic terms, such as: "The endergonic processes(those that require the input of energy) that maintain the living state are driven by the exergonic reactions (those that release energy) of nutrient oxidation". This coupling is most often mediated through the synthesis of a few types of "high-energy" intermediates whose exergonic consumption drives endergonic processes. These intermediates, therefore, form a sort of universal free energy "currency" through which free energy-producing reactions "pay for" the free energy-consuming processes in biological systems. ATP, which occurs in all known life forms, is the "high-energy" intermediate that constitutes the most common cellular energy currency. ATP is consumed in a variety of ways, such as 1) Early stages of nutrient breakdown; 2) interconversion of nucleoside triphosphates; 3) physiological processes, and 4) additional phosphoanydride cleavage in highly endergonic reactions.


How do organisms harness energy to live?

Living organisms use the energy released from he exergonic process to drive the endergonic process


What determines how much energy is available in a molecule?

This is related to the Gibbs free energy: G = H —TS (where, H is the enthalpy, T is the absolute temperature, and S is the entropy), that is the required indicator of spontaneity for constant temperature and pressure processes. For systems that can only do pressure - volume work (w' = 0), Gibbs free energy equation can be expressed as: DG = DH — TDS = qp — TDS (where, qp is the heat transferred at constant pressure). Now, a spontaneous process is that one with negative DG value and is said to be "exergonic" and it can be utilized to do work. A process that is not spontaneous, that one with positive DG value is called "endergonic" and it must be driven by the input of free energy. Those processes that are at equilibrium (when the forward and the backward reactions are exactly balanced) are characterized by a DG = 0. From above considerations, the endergonic processes that maintain the living state are driven by the exergonic reactions of nutrient oxidation. Living organisms are not at equilibrium. Rather, they require a continuous influx of free energy to maintain order in a universe bent of maximizing disorder. They do so by coupling the exergonic processes required to maintain the living state such as the performance of mechanical work, the active transport of molecules against concentration gradients, and the biosynthesis of complex molecules. The key is to know "how much free energy carry a particular molecule" in order to carry out a work. This can be achieved measuring the "free energy" of a given intermediate molecule whose exergonic consumption drives endergonic processes. In other words, to determine how much "energy" carries a particular molecule, we have to measure its DG value.


What happens to the heat when an exergonic reaction occurs in living cells?

It's being released.


What is the difference a reaction without an enzyme and a reaction with an enzyme?

The speed at which the reaction takes place. Many reactions, especially exergonic reactions, would take place naturally, but too slowly to help living cells carry out the work they need to do. So enzymes lower the activation energy needed to start the reaction and these reactions in the cell are speed-ed up enough for cellular work to be done.


What are the reactions that deal with energy in a living thing referred to as?

what are the reactions that deal with energy in a living thign referred to as


What Organic molecules that catalyze reactions in living systems are?

Enzymes are organic molecules that catalyze reactions in living systems.


Chains of chemical reactions in living organisms are called?

Bio-chemical reactions.


Why do living things need both endothermic and exothermic reactions in their bodies?

Living things have cellular reactions which involve both reactions in the process. Endothermic reactions help the body conserve energy or contain it. Exothermic reactions help the body produce energy.


What is the totality of chemical reactions that occur in a living organism?

metabolism


Which is a type of protein that speeds up chemical reactions in living things?

An enzyme is a type of protein that speeds up chemical reactions in living things by lowering the activation energy of said reactions.


What is settler economy?

The condition of having a resource-based economy, coupled with high living standards.