Chemical Reactions and Enzymes

1. Chemical Reactions and Enzymes

2. Energy and Matter • Energy • The ability to do work or cause change • Occurs in various forms • Can be converted to another form • Forms important to biological systems are chemical, thermal, electrical and mechanical energy • Free energy is the energy in a system that is available for work

3. States of Matter • Atoms are in constant motion • The rate at which atoms or molecules in a substance move determines its state

4. States of Matter • Solid • Molecules are tightly linked. • Little energy • Liquid • Molecules are not as tightly linked • Medium amount of energy

5. States of Matter • Gas • Molecules have little or no attraction to each other • Fill the volume of the occupied container • Move most rapidly • To cause a substance to change state, thermal energy (heat) must be added to or removed from a substance

6. Energy and Chemical Reactions • Living things undergo thousands of chemical reactions as part of the life process

7. Energy and Chemical Reactions • Many are very complex involving multistep sequences called biochemical pathways • Chemical equations represent chemical reactions • Reactants are shown on the left side of the equation • Products are shown on the right side • A + B C + D

8. Energy Transfer • Much of the energy organisms need is provided by sugar (food) • Undergoes a series of chemical reactions in which energy is released (cell respiration) • The net release of free energy is called an exothermic reaction

9. Energy Transfer Mix Barium hydroxide and aluminum salt, and the products dissolve in water of hydration. This is VERY COLD! • Reactions that involve a net absorption of free energy are called endothermic reactions • Photosynthesis is an example

10. Energy Transfer • Most chemical reactions require energy to begin • The amount of energy needed to start the reaction is called activation energy

11. Catalysts • Certain chemical substances (catalysts)reduce the amount of activation energy required • Biological catalysts are called enzymes

12. Catalysts • Enzymes are an important class of catalysts in living organisms • Mostly protein • Thousands of different kinds • Each specific for a different chemical reaction

13. Enzyme Structure • Enzymes work on substances called substrates • Substrates must fit into a place on an enzyme called the active site • Enzymes are reusable!

14. Solutions

15. Solutions • A solution is a mixture in which 2 or more substances are uniformly distributed in another substance

16. Solutions • Soluteis the substance dissolved in the solution • Particles may be ions, atoms, or molecules • Solvent is the substance in which the solute is dissolved • Water is the universal solvent

17. Acids and Bases • One of the most important aspects of a living system is the degree of acidity or alkalinity

18. pH Scale • logarithmic scale for comparing the relative concentrations of hydronium ions and hydroxide ions in a solution • ranges from 0 to 14 • Each pH is 10X stronger than next • e.g. ph 1 is 10 times stronger than ph 2

19. Acids • Compounds that donate a proton (H+) when dissolved in a solution. • the lower the pH the stronger the acid • 0-6 on the pH scale • HCl  H+ + Cl-

20. Bases • Compounds that accepts a proton (H+) when dissolved in a solution. • the higher the pH the stronger the base • 8-14 on the pH scale • NaOH  Na+ + OH-

21. Acids and Bases • pH 7.0 is neutral

22. Buffers • Control of pH is very important • Most enzymes function only within a very narrow pH • Control is accomplished with buffers made by the body • Buffers keep a neutral pH (pH 7)

23. Buffers neutralize small amounts of either an acid or base added to a solution • Complex buffering systems maintain the pH values of your body’s many fluids at normal and safe levels