Understanding Reaction Intermediates

Mr. Andersen explains reaction intermediates in chemical reactions, using glycolysis as an example. He describes how reactions occur in multiple elementary steps, with intermediates forming and disappearing. An analogy of a caterpillar transforming into a butterfly illustrates the unseen nature of intermediates. The video discusses identifying intermediates through experimentation and highlights the EMP pathway in glycolysis, named after the scientists who discovered it.

What is the primary purpose of glycolysis in cellular reactions?

• To synthesize proteins

• To break down glucose into pyruvates

• To store energy in the form of ATP

• To convert oxygen into carbon dioxide

What is the final product of glycolysis?

• Pyruvates

• Glucose

• Carbon dioxide

• ATP

What are reaction intermediates in a chemical reaction?

• The final products of a reaction

• The initial reactants of a reaction

• Catalysts that speed up the reaction

• Substances that appear and disappear during the reaction

How can we determine the presence of reaction intermediates?

• By measuring the temperature

• By using a microscope

• Through experimentation

• By direct observation

What analogy is used to explain the concept of reaction intermediates?

• A river flowing into the sea

• Water freezing into ice

• A caterpillar transforming into a butterfly

• A seed growing into a tree

In the example of a chemical reaction, what is a method to identify intermediates?

• By adding more reactants

• By canceling out elements not in the final equation

• By increasing the temperature

• By using a catalyst

What is the role of nitrogen dioxide in the example reaction?

• It is a final product

• It is a reactant

• It is an intermediate

• It is a catalyst

What is the significance of the EMP pathway in glycolysis?

• It is a pathway that involves the breakdown of glucose

• It is a way to produce oxygen

• It is a method to synthesize glucose

• It is a process to store energy

Who were the scientists that the EMP pathway is named after?

• Euler, Mendeleev, and Pascal

• Edison, Marconi, and Pasteur

• Einstein, Maxwell, and Planck

• Embden, Meyerhof, and Parnas

Why is experimentation crucial in chemistry?

• To increase the speed of reactions

• To directly observe all reactions

• To determine the presence of unseen intermediates

• To create new elements