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Summarize the four major types of biochemical reactions studied in this course. For each type give the name, a word summary of what happens during the reaction, and an example of where the reaction might be biologically important.

User Rcarrington
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Oxidation-Reduction (Redox):

When electrons are moved from one element to another, the process is known as a redox (or oxidation-reduction) reaction. In most cases, one element loses electrons while another gains them. It is said that the factor influencing elections has decreased. Oxidation occurs to an element that loses electrons. Although it can seem counterintuitive, adding electrons is really a lowering of the element's oxidation state, or charge. For instance, when an oxygen atom is oxidized, its charge changes from -2 to 0 (neutral). As electrons are taken away, the charge would alter. For a decrease, the reverse occurs. Biological Importance of Alcohol Oxidation to Aldehydes or Ketones. An essential stage in the breakdown of lipids during human metabolism is the conversion of alcohol groups to carbonyl groups (e.g. L- malate to oxaloacetate). The citric acid cycle also includes these oxidations. The liver converts ethanol to acetaldehyde, which is next converted to acetic acid, a natural component of cells, and finally to carbon dioxide and water. However, ethanol may be hazardous to people. Most individuals would die after ingesting 1 pt (or 500 mL) of pure ethanol quickly, and acute ethanol poisoning claims the lives of several hundred people annually, frequently those participating in drinking competitions. Alcohol easily enters the brain, where it suppresses the respiratory control center, impairing the breathing muscles in the lungs and ultimately leading to asphyxia. According to theory, ethanol damages nerve cell membranes, impairing speech, thinking, cognition, and judgment. Isopropyl alcohol is often dissolved in water at a 70% concentration for rubbing alcohol. It quickly evaporates off the skin and has a high vapor pressure, which provides a cooling effect. Although it is hazardous when consumed, methanol is more easily absorbed via the skin.

Hydrolysis:

In a chemical reaction known as hydrolysis, which is the reverse of condensation, water breaks down another substance and modifies its chemical structure. While inorganic hydrolysis connects water with ionic molecules like acids, salts, and bases, most occurrences of organic hydrolysis combine water with neutral molecules. The interaction of water with an ester of a carboxylic acid may serve as an illustration of the hydrolysis of organic molecules. When esters and the majority of other organic compounds are hydrolyzed, a third substance—typically an acid or a base—increases the rate at which the chemical transformation occurs. One instance of hydrolysis is food digesting. The substances you've consumed are broken down by the water. This makes it possible for the bigger compounds to be broken down into smaller ones so they may be absorbed more readily.


Condensation:

A condensation reaction is a type of organic addition reaction that produces both a water molecule and the addition product, often in equilibrium. Otherwise, acetic acid, ethanol, or ammonia may be produced by the process. An example of condensation reaction would be Morning Dew on the Grass. The air close to the ground cools to or below the dew point overnight. As a result, the atmosphere's water vapor becomes saturated and begins to condense, forming dew on the grass.

Neutralization:

The term "neutralization reaction" describes the processes that happen when basic and acidic compounds interact and counteract each other's effects to produce salt, water, and energy (heat). An example would be a neutralizing antibody. It refers to an antibody's capacity to block the site(s) on bacteria or viruses that they employ to enter their target cell in an immunological sense. A neutralizing antibody is one biological illustration of this.

User JimHawkins
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