Biochemistry

During oxidation in inanimate nature, a direct addition of oxygen occurs : C + O 2 — CO 2 ; in wildlife - hydrogen loss: -H 2 SN 3 - SN 2 - SN 2 - SOON — » SN 3 - SN = SN - SOON Such a process is possible only if the reaction mixture contains a substance that combines with the released hydrogen. This substance is called the hydrogen acceptor, and the compound that is the source of hydrogen, is the donor of this element. The universal hydrogen acceptor is atmospheric oxygen .. The general condition for oxidation is electron recoil: Fe 2+ ->Fe 3+ The process of energy release in a living organism provides all forms of vital activity (including the conversion of food substances into cell components), as well as maintaining the body in a state of dynamic equilibrium, despite constantly changing environmental conditions. A typical example of oxidation in inanimate nature is combustion. It is accompanied by a significant increase in temperature. When burning, a huge amount of energy is released a mixture of various substances of variable composition is formed. The nature of the energy released during combustion can be compared with the crushing force of a waterfall that falls from a high mountain. If you divide it into several waterfalls falling from a small height, then each of them will have less pressure. In the process of evolution, living organisms have developed mechanisms for converting the powerful flow of energy released during the complete oxidation of food substances into small portions that are stored, approximately 50%, in the form of chemical energy used for the synthesis processes, the remaining 50% are released as heat . It has been established that a universal reserve of chemical energy generated during the oxidation of organic substances in cells is adenosine triphosphate (ATP). This compound consists of adenine, ribose and three phosphoric acid residues. Thus, the release of energy during the oxidation of organic substances, in contrast to combustion, occurs gradually . In this case, those significant temperature differences that are characteristic of combustion do not occur. Regardless of the individual stages of oxidative decomposition of organic 103