Biochemistry - The Chemical Reactions of Living Cells, Volume 1 - D. Metzler 1980

Bioenergetics of Biochemical Reactions
Thermodynamics
Enthalpy Change and Thermochemistry

When studying Chemical Reactions, we are most often interested in changes in thermodynamic Functions; for instance, the heat absorbed by a system inside a bomb calorimeter at constant volume, Qv, serves as a direct measure of The change in energy E

Class="center">QV = ∆E.       (3-2)

To measure ∆E during the combustion of a biochemical compound, it must be placed in a bomb calorimeter along with gaseous oxygen and ignited using an electric spark. In this case, the bomb will release heat to the surroundings: Qv and ∆E will be negative. The calorimeter allows us to measure Qv and, consequently, ∆E over the course of the reaction.



Last update: 06/08/2026

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