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Endergonic

 

 
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Endergonic
 
 
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Endergonic means absorbing energy in the form of work. Its etymology stems from the suffix -ergonic, as derived from the Greek root ergon, meaning work
Work (thermodynamics)

In thermodynamics, work is the quantity of energy transferred from one system to another without an accompanying transfer of entropy. It is a generalization of the concept of mechanical work in mechanics....
, combined with the prefix end-, as derived from the Greek root en, meaning put into. Endergonic reactions are not spontaneous. By thermodynamic standards, work, a form of energy
Energy

In physics, energy is a scalar physical quantity that describes the amount of Work_ that can be performed by a force. Energy is an attribute of objects and systems that is subject to a conservation law....
, is defined as moving from the surroundings
Surroundings

Surroundings are the area around a given physical or geographical Point or place. The exact definition depends on the field. Surroundings can also be used in geography and mathematics, as well as philosophy, with the literal or metaphorically extended definition....
 (the external region) to the system
System

System is a set of interacting or interdependent entities, real or abstract, forming an integrated whole.The concept of an "integrated whole" can also be stated in terms of a system embodying a set of relationships which are differentiated from relationships of the set to other elements, and from relationships between an element of the se...
 (the internal region).






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Endergonic means absorbing energy in the form of work. Its etymology stems from the suffix -ergonic, as derived from the Greek root ergon, meaning work
Work (thermodynamics)

In thermodynamics, work is the quantity of energy transferred from one system to another without an accompanying transfer of entropy. It is a generalization of the concept of mechanical work in mechanics....
, combined with the prefix end-, as derived from the Greek root en, meaning put into. Endergonic reactions are not spontaneous. By thermodynamic standards, work, a form of energy
Energy

In physics, energy is a scalar physical quantity that describes the amount of Work_ that can be performed by a force. Energy is an attribute of objects and systems that is subject to a conservation law....
, is defined as moving from the surroundings
Surroundings

Surroundings are the area around a given physical or geographical Point or place. The exact definition depends on the field. Surroundings can also be used in geography and mathematics, as well as philosophy, with the literal or metaphorically extended definition....
 (the external region) to the system
System

System is a set of interacting or interdependent entities, real or abstract, forming an integrated whole.The concept of an "integrated whole" can also be stated in terms of a system embodying a set of relationships which are differentiated from relationships of the set to other elements, and from relationships between an element of the se...
 (the internal region). Thus, an endergonic process, as contrasted with an exergonic
Exergonic

Exergonic means to release energy in the form of work. Its etymology stems from the suffix -ergonic, as derived from the Greek root ergon, meaning work , combined with the Greek prefix ex-, meaning out of....
 process, is one wherein the system absorbs energy from the surroundings. As a result, during an endergonic process, energy is put into the system. If the transformation occurs at constant pressure and temperature, ?G > 0. An endergonic reaction
Endergonic reaction

In thermochemistry, an endergonic reaction is a chemical reaction in which the standard change in Thermodynamic free energy is positive, and energy is absorbed....
 is a chemical reaction
Chemical reaction

A chemical reaction is a process that always results in the interconversion of chemical substances. The substance or substances initially involved in a chemical reaction are called reactants....
 that absorbs energy in the form of work. A good example of an endergonic reaction is photosynthesis
Photosynthesis

File:Seawifs global biosphere.jpgPhotosynthesis is a metabolic pathway that converts carbon dioxide into organic compounds, especially sugars, using the energy from sunlight....
.

An endergonic reaction is, in essence, the opposite of an exergonic reaction. Since endergonic reactions require energy, they form molecular bonds, which decreases entropy
Entropy

In many branches of science, entropy is a measure of the disorder of a system. The concept of entropy is particularly notable as it is applied across physics, information theory and mathematics....
. These bonds are energy carriers, so the formation of these bonds requires some energy input.

'Cold packs,' which become cold after mixing two liquids, exploit this property. In fact, a common reaction that is clearly endergonic is the mixing of ammonium chloride
Ammonium chloride

Ammonium chloride is, in its pure form, a clear white water-soluble crystalline salt of ammonia. The aqueous ammonium chloride solution is mildly acidic....
 and water. There is a net drop in temperature of the reaction as a result of the solvation
Solvation

Solvation, commonly called dissolution, is the process of attraction and association of molecules of a solvent with molecules or ions of a solute....
 of ammonium ions.

See also

  • Exergonic
    Exergonic

    Exergonic means to release energy in the form of work. Its etymology stems from the suffix -ergonic, as derived from the Greek root ergon, meaning work , combined with the Greek prefix ex-, meaning out of....
  • Exergonic reaction
    Exergonic reaction

    An exergonic reaction is a chemical reaction where the change in the Gibbs free energy is negative, indicating a spontaneous reaction. Symbolically, the release of Gibbs free energy, G, in an exergonic reaction is denoted as...
  • Exothermic
    Exothermic

    File:Explosion1.JPG In thermodynamics, the term exothermic describes a process or reaction that releases energy usually in the form of heat, but also in form of light , electricity , or sound....
  • Endothermic
    Endothermic

    In thermodynamics, the word endothermic "within-heating" describes a process or reaction that absorbs energy in the form of heat. Its etymology stems from the Greek prefix endo-, meaning ?inside? and the Greek suffix ?thermic, meaning ?to heat?....
  • Exothermic reaction
    Exothermic reaction

    An exothermic reaction is a chemical reaction that releases energy in the form of heat. It is the opposite of an endothermic reaction. Expressed in a chemical equation:...
  • Endothermic reaction
  • Endotherm
    Warm-blooded

    In biology, a warm-blooded animal species is one whose members maintain thermal homeostasis; that is, they keep their body temperature at a roughly constant level, regardless of the ambient temperature....
  • Exotherm
    Warm-blooded

    In biology, a warm-blooded animal species is one whose members maintain thermal homeostasis; that is, they keep their body temperature at a roughly constant level, regardless of the ambient temperature....