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Ch. 8 - Microbial Metabolism
Norman-McKay- Microbiology: Basic and Clinical Principles 2nd Edition
Norman-McKay2nd EditionMicrobiology: Basic and Clinical PrinciplesISBN: 9780137661619Not the one you use?Change textbook
All textbooksNorman-McKay 2nd EditionCh. 8 - Microbial MetabolismProblem 1
Chapter 8, Problem 1

Label each reactant and product in the reactions as reduced or oxidized (X is a theoretical molecule or atom).
Chemical equations showing redox reactions with reactants and products labeled as reduced or oxidized forms.

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1
Identify the reactants and products in the given reaction. Since X is a theoretical molecule or atom, focus on the changes in its oxidation state or electron content between reactants and products.
Recall that oxidation involves the loss of electrons, and reduction involves the gain of electrons. Determine which species loses electrons (oxidized) and which gains electrons (reduced) by comparing their oxidation states before and after the reaction.
Assign the label 'oxidized' to the reactant or product that shows an increase in oxidation state (loss of electrons) and 'reduced' to the one that shows a decrease in oxidation state (gain of electrons).
If the reaction involves multiple reactants or products, repeat the process for each to correctly label all species as either oxidized or reduced.
Summarize your findings by clearly stating which reactants and products are oxidized and which are reduced, ensuring that the electron transfer is balanced and consistent with redox principles.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Oxidation and Reduction

Oxidation involves the loss of electrons by a molecule, atom, or ion, while reduction is the gain of electrons. Identifying which reactants or products lose or gain electrons is essential to label them as oxidized or reduced.
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Redox Reactions

Redox reactions are chemical processes where oxidation and reduction occur simultaneously. Understanding that one species is oxidized while another is reduced helps in correctly assigning the roles of reactants and products.
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Electron Transfer and Energy Changes

Electron transfer between molecules affects their oxidation states and energy content. Recognizing how electrons move in the reaction allows for accurate labeling of molecules as oxidized or reduced based on their electron gain or loss.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question

The graph shows an enzyme-catalyzed reaction.

a. Draw a line that would correspond to a noncatalyzed reaction.

b. Is this an endergonic or exergonic reaction? How can you tell?

c. Label the point on your graph that corresponds with the activation energy.

Textbook Question

Match the term to the statement (some statements may be used more than once; others may not be used at all).

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Textbook Question

Indicate the true statements about ATP, and then reword the false statements so that they are true.

a. ATP is made using anabolic reactions.

b. Substrate-level phosphorylation converts ATP to ADP.

c. ATP is commonly used by cells to store energy.

d. ATP is used to jump-start cellular respiration.

e. Catabolic reactions are used to make ATP.

f. In cellular respiration, the most ATP is made by glycolysis.

g. ATP can be made by phosphorylating ADP.

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