Concepts I grasp:
1. The "rule of thumb" is that breaking a bond requires energy while forming a bond releases energy.
2. Endothermic reactions are positive enthalpy changes (heat into system), and exothermic reactions are negative enthalpy changes (heat out of system).
3. Building a molecule from smaller ones is anabolic (like steroids), while breaking them down is catabolic.
What throws me off is explaining the processes of cellular respiration: breaking glucose into water and CO2, releasing energy in the process.
Catabolic processes are exothermic, because they release energy into the surroundings, but breaking a bond (like glucose into water and CO2) is supposed to be putting energy IN to break it, right?
Vice versa with photosynthesis being an anabolic/endothermic process, when you're using water and CO2 to FORM glucose (form is supposed to be release).
I feel like I'm in a roundabout and keep missing my exit.
1. The "rule of thumb" is that breaking a bond requires energy while forming a bond releases energy.
2. Endothermic reactions are positive enthalpy changes (heat into system), and exothermic reactions are negative enthalpy changes (heat out of system).
3. Building a molecule from smaller ones is anabolic (like steroids), while breaking them down is catabolic.
What throws me off is explaining the processes of cellular respiration: breaking glucose into water and CO2, releasing energy in the process.
Catabolic processes are exothermic, because they release energy into the surroundings, but breaking a bond (like glucose into water and CO2) is supposed to be putting energy IN to break it, right?
Vice versa with photosynthesis being an anabolic/endothermic process, when you're using water and CO2 to FORM glucose (form is supposed to be release).
I feel like I'm in a roundabout and keep missing my exit.