About this video

• Video Title: Metabolism - Chemical Rxns I (Part 2) | BIALIGY.com
• Channel: BIALIGY
• Speakers: None listed
• Duration: 00:06:35

Overview

This video explains the concept of free energy in metabolism, emphasizing that it's the only form of energy cells can use to perform work. It details how negative free energy changes (ΔG) indicate spontaneous and favorable reactions that release energy, while positive ΔG signifies non-spontaneous, unfavorable reactions that require energy input. The video also introduces the Gibbs free energy equation (ΔG = ΔH - TΔS) and its components: enthalpy (ΔH) and entropy (ΔS), explaining how temperature influences these factors.

Key takeaways

• Free Energy (ΔG): This is the only type of energy usable by cells to perform work.
• Spontaneity and Favorability: A negative ΔG indicates a spontaneous and favorable reaction that releases energy. A positive ΔG signifies a non-spontaneous and unfavorable reaction that requires energy input.
• Gibbs Free Energy Equation: ΔG = ΔH - TΔS relates free energy (ΔG) to enthalpy (ΔH, total bond energy/potential energy) and entropy (ΔS, measure of disorder), with T representing temperature in Kelvin.
• Temperature's Role: Increasing temperature (T) increases the TΔS term, potentially influencing the spontaneity of a reaction.
• Metabolism and Chemical Reactions: Metabolism fundamentally involves chemical reactions that change atomic arrangements, and understanding free energy is crucial for analyzing these processes.