Chapter 1, Problem 11RQ

Summary Introduction

To review:

Definitions of the following terminologies:

(a) Nucleophile

(b) Electrophile

(c) Leaving group

(d) Adenosine triphosphate

(e) Anhydride

Introduction:

There are thousands of chemical reactions thatoccur inside a living cell. In many such reactions, one species donates and the other accepts an electron pair. Molecular groups such as electrophileand nucleophile are the chemical species, which make the reaction possible by their ability to gain or lose an electron. These biochemical reactions proceed with a proper mechanism and may result in energy production, biosynthesis, or degradation of biological macromolecules. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is the energy currency of the cell and is mainly used to drive many cellular processes that require energy.