Cytochrome, a complicated molecule that we will represent as CyFe2+, reacts with the air we breathe to supply energy required to synthesize adenosine triphosphate (ATP). The body uses ATP as an energy source to drive other reactions (Section 19.7). At pH 7.0 the following reduction potentials pertain to this oxidation of CyFe2+: O21g2 + 4 H+1aq2 + 4 e- ¡ 2 H2O1l2 Ered ° = +0.82 V CyFe3+1aq2 + e- ¡ CyFe2+1aq2 E°red = +0.22 V (a) What is ∆G for the oxidation of CyFe2+ by air? (b) If the synthesis of 1.00 mol of ATP from adenosine diphosphate (ADP) requires a ∆G of 37.7 kJ, how many moles of ATP are synthesized per mole of O2?

Key Concepts

Reduction Potentials

Reduction potentials indicate the tendency of a chemical species to gain electrons and be reduced. A higher reduction potential means a greater likelihood of reduction occurring. In electrochemistry, these values are crucial for determining the direction of electron flow in redox reactions, which is essential for calculating Gibbs free energy changes.

Gibbs Free Energy (∆G)

Gibbs free energy is a thermodynamic quantity that measures the maximum reversible work obtainable from a thermodynamic system at constant temperature and pressure. The change in Gibbs free energy (∆G) during a reaction indicates whether the process is spontaneous (∆G < 0) or non-spontaneous (∆G > 0). It is calculated using the equation ∆G = -nFE, where n is the number of moles of electrons transferred, F is Faraday's constant, and E is the cell potential.

ATP Synthesis

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is the primary energy carrier in cells, synthesized from adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and inorganic phosphate (Pi) through processes like oxidative phosphorylation. The synthesis of ATP is coupled to exergonic reactions, such as the oxidation of cytochromes, which release energy. Understanding the relationship between the energy released in redox reactions and the energy required for ATP synthesis is key to determining how many moles of ATP can be produced from a given reaction.