Question

extension questions

1. metabolism is the collective term used to describe all the chemical reactions taking place inside living organisms. why is water so important for metabolic reactions?

because it is best solvent in the world.

1. we store excess food in our body either in the form of carbohydrates (in muscles and the liver) or as fat (adipose tissue). when our body needs additional energy it uses the carbohydrate source first as a source of \quick\ energy, then the fat. why do you think carbohydrates are used as a source of quick energy rather than fat? use complete sentences and scientific terminology in your response.
2. look at the two types of fatty acids below, saturated and unsaturated. what is the difference between the two?
3. saturated fats are solid fats, like the animal fats lard and butter, whereas unsaturated fats are more fluid and form oils, such as vegetable oil. trans fats are plant oils that are artificially solidified to make them suitable for baking purposes. in recent years trans fats have been associated with negative health issues and are not as widely used. explain in simple molecular terms what would have to be done to a plant oil to transform it to a trans fat.

Explanation:

Question 23:

Water is important for metabolic reactions not only because it is a good solvent but also because it participates in many reactions, helps in temperature regulation and transportation of substances. It can dissolve many substances which allows for chemical reactions to occur in solution and provides a medium for reactants to interact.

Question 24:

Carbohydrates are used as a source of quick energy because they are more easily and rapidly broken - down through metabolic processes like glycolysis compared to fats. Fats require more complex and time - consuming processes such as beta - oxidation to release energy.

Question 25:

The main difference between saturated and unsaturated fatty acids is that saturated fatty acids have only single bonds between carbon atoms in their hydrocarbon chains, while unsaturated fatty acids have one or more double bonds. The presence of double bonds in unsaturated fatty acids causes kinks in the chain structure.

Question 26:

To transform a plant oil (unsaturated fat) into a trans fat, a process called partial hydrogenation is carried out. In partial hydrogenation, hydrogen atoms are added to the double bonds of the unsaturated fatty acids in the plant oil. However, instead of fully saturating the fatty acids, the process is stopped part - way, resulting in the formation of trans double bonds which give trans fats their unique molecular structure.

Answer:

Question 23:

Water is important for metabolic reactions as it is a great solvent, participates in reactions, aids in temperature regulation and substance transportation.

Question 24:

Carbohydrates are used as quick energy because they are broken down more rapidly than fats through simpler metabolic processes.

Question 25:

Saturated fatty acids have only single carbon - carbon bonds, while unsaturated fatty acids have one or more double carbon - carbon bonds causing chain kinks.

Question 26:

To make a trans fat from a plant oil, partial hydrogenation is done where hydrogen is added to double bonds of unsaturated fatty acids, creating trans double bonds.