Biochemistry 1 Chapter 1 Introduction to the Chemistry of Life Study Guide PDF

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This is a study guide for chapter 1. This contains details about the concepts covered on the exam. This is composed of information from the book as a supplement as well as from the lectures as the main focus. The exam is based of the lectures, however some concepts may need more clarification and th...

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Biochemistry 1 Chapter 1: Introduction to the Chemistry of Life Lecture 1 Thermodynamics How first and second laws of thermodynamics apply to living systems to maintain steady state, which is far from equilibrium. Understanding the Laws of Thermodynamics will allow us to determine whether or not certain processes in living systems are spontaneous. First Law of Thermodynamics Energy is conserved; it can be neither created nor destroyed. The form of energy can transform but the total amount of energy in the universe remains the same. Second Law of Thermodynamics Spontaneous processes are characterized by conversion of order to disorder. All SPONTANEOUS processes occur in the direction that INCREASES the ENTROPY of the Universe. ΔSsystem +Ssurroundings=Suniverse>0 Life Obeys the Laws of Thermodynamics Life persists because a system (a living organism) can be ordered at the expense of disordering its surroundings to an even greater extent. What is meant by this and how does the system increase disorder in the surrounding? Free Energy Change determines the Spontaneity of a Process ΔG=ΔH-TΔS>1, ∆G˚΄ is large and negative, Rxn is spontaneous. When Keq...