Question

When considering free energy change, biochemists usually define a standard state, the biochemical standard state, which is modified from the chemical standard state to fit biochemical applications. Determine which of the phrases describe the biochemical standard state, the chemical standard state, or both.

Answer 1

Answer:

Maximum work under this condition (∆G) = Maximum work under Standard Condition (∆G°) + Activities defining this condition

Explanation:

In this equation, the term DGo provides us with a value for the maximal work we could obtain from the reaction starting with all reactants and products in their standard states, and going to equilibrium. The term DG' provides us with a value for the maximal work we could obtain under the conditions defined by the activities in the logarithmic term. The logarithmic term can be seen as modifying the value under standard conditions to account for the actual conditions. In describing the work available in metabolic processes, we are concerned with the actual conditions in the reaction medium (whether that is a test-tube, or the cell cytoplasm); the important term is therefore DG'. If we measure the actual activities (in practice, we make do with concentrations), and look up a value for DGo in a reference book, we can calculate DG' from the above equation.

Values for DGo provide a useful indication through which we can compare the relative work potential from different processes, because they refer to a standard set of conditions.

Therefore both phrases describe the Biochemical and Chemical Standard State