Catabolism/Anabolism question

[JustwantDDS]

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so-
catabolism is the break down of large--> small which release energy
anabolism is the build up of small--> large which uses energy

so why is it that when bonds are formed (i assume in building) energy is released
and energy is used when breaking a bond (break down, catabolism) ?

sorry if its a stupid question.

 

[casper22]

The way I see it is..

Forming a bond is bringing two unstable compounds together to form a stable compound and hence energy is released...

Whereas, Breaking a bond is disturbing the stability which needs energy...

Someone please correct me if this is wrong..

 

[JustwantDDS]

thanks!

bump
anybody else?

 

[ZFT]

...so why is it that when bonds are formed (i assume in building) energy is released
and energy is used when breaking a bond (break down, catabolism) ?

you have it the wrong way around:

anabolism = make bonds = uses energy.

catabolism = break bonds = releases energy.

why make bonds = uses energy?
1) going against entropy
2) overcoming electrostatic repulsion

why break bonds = release energy?
1) going with entropy
2) bond energy is released

ex. glucose is broken down by your body to get energy (catabolism); plants use sun energy to make glucose (anabolism).

ex. takes energy to create a planet (~anabolism); when that planet blows up, all kinds of energies are released (~catabolism).

ex. H2O -> H + OH catabolism; H + OH -> H2O anabolism.

The basic principle in all of science, including bio, chem, and physics is that it takes energy to make something, and energy is released when something breaks.