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Energy Sources and Generation definitions

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  • Entropy
    A measure of system disorder, reflecting the natural tendency for systems to become more disorganized over time.
  • Potential Energy
    Stored energy, such as that found in chemical bonds or concentration gradients, available for future use.
  • Kinetic Energy
    Energy associated with motion, including heat, light, and moving electrons within cells.
  • Calorie
    A unit measuring the energy required to raise the temperature of 1 gram of water by 1 degree Celsius.
  • Joule
    A unit of energy commonly used in chemistry, equivalent to 0.239 calories.
  • Membrane Concentration Gradient
    A difference in molecule concentration across a membrane, representing stored energy until movement occurs.
  • Phototroph
    An organism that converts light energy into chemical energy through photosynthesis.
  • Chemotroph
    An organism that derives usable energy from organic nutrients, often releasing carbon dioxide and water.
  • Metabolism
    The sum of all chemical reactions in a cell, encompassing both breakdown and synthesis processes.
  • Catabolism
    The set of metabolic pathways that break down food into smaller molecules, releasing energy.
  • Anabolism
    The set of metabolic pathways that synthesize complex molecules from simpler ones, requiring energy input.
  • Enzyme
    A protein that accelerates metabolic reactions, facilitating both breakdown and synthesis in cells.
  • Oxidation
    A process involving the removal of electrons from an atom or molecule, typically releasing energy.
  • Reduction
    A process involving the addition of electrons to an atom or molecule, usually requiring energy input.
  • First Law of Thermodynamics
    A principle stating that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed between forms.