2. The muscles in our bodies work similar to that of a fuel cell, by metabolizing sugar (glucose) to perform work. Such a reaction can be written as: C6H1206 + 602 → 6C02 + 6H20 a. Using data from thermochemical tables (back of your text), determine the changes in enthalpy and free energy of this reaction for one mole of glucose. It is safe to assume RTP. b. What is the maximum amount of work done per mole of glucose consumption by a muscle if it is in ideal working order? c. How much heat is consumed or generated during this process? Does the direction of heat flow make sense in terms of the second law of thermodynamics?
Thermochemistry
Thermochemistry can be considered as a branch of thermodynamics that deals with the connections between warmth, work, and various types of energy, formed because of different synthetic and actual cycles. Thermochemistry describes the energy changes that occur as a result of reactions or chemical changes in a substance.
Exergonic Reaction
The term exergonic is derived from the Greek word in which ‘ergon’ means work and exergonic means ‘work outside’. Exergonic reactions releases work energy. Exergonic reactions are different from exothermic reactions, the one that releases only heat energy during the course of the reaction. So, exothermic reaction is one type of exergonic reaction. Exergonic reaction releases work energy in different forms like heat, light or sound. For example, a glow stick releases light making that an exergonic reaction and not an exothermic reaction since no heat is released. Even endothermic reactions at very high temperature are exergonic.
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