I am having trouble understanding the thermodynamics of biochemical reactions. Please help me to better understand how to work problems that involve free energy changes in biological reactions.

Question

anonymous · Answer

okay. So delta G = free energy. if you have a negative delta g, then the reaction is exergonic (exothermic). the reaction will also proceed spontaneously. This is because the reaction starts with a high amount of free energy, so it is extremely unstable. then, the reaction occurs to try to get back to stability, and it gives off free energy (hence the negative delta G). That energy then can be used by coupled reactions. The energy given off by that exergonic reaction can then be used to initiate an endergonic (endothermic) reaction. an endergonic reaction has a postive delta G.