3a. All Living things require a constant input of energy to exist: Briefly expla
ID: 166208 • Letter: 3
Question
3a. All Living things require a constant input of energy to exist: Briefly explain this in terms of thermodynamics and the relationship between free and potential energy.3a. All Living things require a constant input of energy to exist: Briefly explain this in terms of thermodynamics and the relationship between free and potential energy.
3a. All Living things require a constant input of energy to exist: Briefly explain this in terms of thermodynamics and the relationship between free and potential energy.
Explanation / Answer
Living cells require an input of free energy. Free energy required for the maintenance of highly organised structure, synthesis of cellular components, movement generation of electrical currents and for many other processes. Cells acquire free energy from the oxidation of organic compounds that are rich in potential energy.
respiration is an oxidative process, in which free energy released from organic compound is used in the formation of ATP. The compounds that are oxidised during the process of repiration are known as respiratory substrate, which may be corbohydrate, fat, proteins or organic acids.
During oxidation within a cell , all the energy contained in respiratory substrate is not released free in a single step. free energy is released in multiple steps in a controlled manner and used to synthesise ATP, which is broken down whenever energy is needed. Hence, ATP acts as a free energy currency of the cell.
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