Biological processes, chemical reactions that regulate

Why Do We Need to Know This Material The dynamic equilibrium toward which every chemical reaction tends is such an important aspect of the study of chemistry that four chapters of this book deal with it. We need to know the composition of a reaction mixture at equilibrium because it tells us how much product we can expect. To control the yield of a reaction, we need to understand the thermodynamic basis of equilibrium and how the position of equilibrium is affected by conditions such as temperature and pressure. The response of equilibria to changes in conditions has considerable economic and biological significance the regulation of chemical equilibrium affects the yields of products in industrial processes, and living cells struggle to avoid sinking into equilibrium. 

The distinct feature of biochemistry is that it uses the principles and language of one science, chemistry, to explain the other science, biology at the molecular level. Biochemistry can be divided into three principal areas (1) Structural biochemistry focuses on the structural chemistry of the components of living matter and the relationship between chemical structure and biological function. (2) Dynamic biochemistry deals with the totality of chemical reactions known as metabolic processes that occur in living systems and their regulations. (3) Information biochemistry is... 

Since biological systems are dynamic, with many different processes taking place and many different substances present, buffers are necessary to prevent the kind of wide variation of pH that can inhibit proper enzyme catalysis. Thus, a proper pH aids in regulating the reaction rates associated with certain enzymes and maintaining them at levels appropriate for their particular functions. Two important biological buffers are the phosphate buffer system that regulates pH for the fluid inside cells and the carbonic acid buffer system that regulates pH for blood plasma. The chemical equations for these buffers are shown below for an aqueous solution. 

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