1st and 2nd Laws of Thermodynamics

• “Energy can be transferred or transformed but neither created nor destroyed.”
• “Every energy transfer or transformation increases the disorder (entropy) of the universe.”

Organisms are Energy Transformers

Organisms:

• Transform energy to new forms (1st law)

Free Energy

Free energy is energy available to do work.

Metabolic Reactions

• Exergonic reactions release free energy
• Endergonic reactions absorb free energy