General Biology I

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Enthalpy

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General Biology I

Definition

Enthalpy is a measure of the total energy of a thermodynamic system, including internal energy and the energy required to displace its environment. It is often used to quantify the heat change in biochemical reactions at constant pressure.

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5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

  1. Enthalpy changes are denoted by ΔH, which represents the difference between the enthalpy of products and reactants.
  2. A negative ΔH indicates an exothermic reaction, releasing heat to the surroundings.
  3. A positive ΔH signifies an endothermic reaction, absorbing heat from the surroundings.
  4. In biological systems, enthalpy changes can influence metabolic pathways and enzyme activity.
  5. The standard enthalpy change (ΔH°) is measured under standard conditions: 298K temperature, 1 atm pressure.

Review Questions

  • What does a negative ΔH value indicate about a biochemical reaction?
  • How does enthalpy relate to heat exchange in metabolic processes?
  • Why is understanding enthalpy important for studying enzyme activity?

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