Table of contents

1. A Review of General Chemistry5h 5m
2. Molecular Representations1h 14m
3. Acids and Bases2h 46m
4. Alkanes and Cycloalkanes4h 17m
5. Chirality3h 39m
6. Thermodynamics and Kinetics1h 22m
7. Substitution Reactions1h 48m
8. Elimination Reactions2h 30m
9. Alkenes and Alkynes2h 9m
10. Addition Reactions3h 19m
11. Radical Reactions1h 58m
12. Alcohols, Ethers, Epoxides and Thiols2h 42m
13. Alcohols and Carbonyl Compounds2h 17m
14. Synthetic Techniques1h 26m
15. Analytical Techniques:IR, NMR, Mass Spect7h 3m
16. Conjugated Systems6h 13m
17. Ultraviolet Spectroscopy51m
18. Aromaticity2h 34m
19. Reactions of Aromatics: EAS and Beyond5h 1m
20. Phenols55m
21. Aldehydes and Ketones: Nucleophilic Addition4h 56m
22. Carboxylic Acid Derivatives: NAS2h 51m
23. The Chemistry of Thioesters, Phophate Ester and Phosphate Anhydrides1h 10m
24. Enolate Chemistry: Reactions at the Alpha-Carbon1h 53m
25. Condensation Chemistry2h 9m
26. Amines1h 43m
27. Heterocycles2h 0m
28. Carbohydrates5h 53m
29. Amino Acids4h 20m
30. Peptides and Proteins2h 42m
31. Catalysis in Organic Reactions1h 30m
32. Lipids 2h 50m
33. The Organic Chemistry of Metabolic Pathways2h 52m
34. Nucleic Acids1h 32m
35. Transition Metals6h 14m
36. Synthetic Polymers1h 49m

33. The Organic Chemistry of Metabolic Pathways

Energy Production in Biochemical Pathways

Organic Chemistry

33. The Organic Chemistry of Metabolic Pathways

Energy Production in Biochemical Pathways

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Multiple Choice

Why is the energy transfer between trophic levels in biochemical pathways not 100% efficient?

Energy is stored indefinitely in the organisms at each trophic level.

Energy is completely converted into biomass at each trophic level.

Energy is fully utilized for reproduction at each trophic level.

Energy is lost as heat during metabolic processes.

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Verified step by step guidance

Understand the concept of trophic levels: Trophic levels represent the different stages in a food chain, where energy is transferred from one level to the next, starting from producers (like plants) to various levels of consumers (herbivores, carnivores, etc.).

Recognize the role of metabolic processes: In each trophic level, organisms undergo metabolic processes to maintain life functions such as growth, reproduction, and movement. These processes require energy.

Identify the inefficiency in energy transfer: During metabolic processes, not all energy consumed is converted into biomass. A significant portion of energy is lost as heat due to the second law of thermodynamics, which states that energy transformations are not 100% efficient.

Clarify the misconception about energy storage: Energy is not stored indefinitely in organisms. Instead, it is used for various biological functions, and the excess is dissipated as heat.

Conclude with the correct understanding: The primary reason for the inefficiency in energy transfer between trophic levels is the loss of energy as heat during metabolic processes, which limits the amount of energy available for conversion into biomass at the next trophic level.