Chapter Questions
Cite cveryday illustrations of the first and second laws of thermodynamics. How do the laws of thermodynamics underlic cvery arganism's ability to function?
Some people claim that life's high degree of organization defies the second law of thermodynamics. What makes this statement false?
List some examples of endergonic and exergonic reactions that have been introduced in previous chapters.
Describe where oxidation and reduction occur along an electron transport chain.
Classify oxidation reactions and reduction reactions as exergonic or endergonic processes. Explain your answer.
Provide an example of an appliance that uses coupled reactions.
Name at least four ways that the cell uses ATP.
In what ways is an enzyme's function similar to engineers digging a tunnel through a mountain rather than building a road over the pcak?
Considering that enzymes are essential to all cells, including microbes, why might refrigeration and freezing help preserve food?
When a person eats a fatty dict, excess cholesterol accumulates in the bloodstream. Cells then temporarily stop producing cholesterol. What phenomenon described in the chapter does this control illustrate?
Explain the differences among diffusion, facilitated diffusion, active transport, and endocytosis.
Diffusion is an cfficicnt means of transport only over small distances. How does this relate to a cell's surface-area-to-volume ratio (see chapter 3 )?
Liver cells are packed with glucose. If the concentration of glucose in a liver cell is higher than in the surrounding fluid, what mechanism could the cell use to import even more glucose? Why would only this mode of transport work?
List three ways the content in this chapter relates to an organism's ability to maintain homeostasis.