Essay, Research Paper: Fermentation, Photosynthesis, Osmosis,

This paper is on the processes of fermentation, cellular respiration,
photosynthesis, diffusion, osmosis, and enzyme activity. What do these
six processes have in common?
Fermentation is a chemical process that breaks down organic
materials. This process is carried out by such microbes as bacteria,
molds, and yeasts. For example, molds or fungi act upon mixtures of
molasses and mineral salts to produce penicillin. Yeast breaks down
sugar gotten from malted grain into ethyl alcohol and carbon dioxide gas
for use in beer. Sugar from grape juice is broken down in the same way
for use in wine. Fermentation also is essential in the production of
bread, cheese, and yogurt. In some cases, fermentation can be
unhealthy. For example of fermentation being unhealthy is that
fermented milk turns sour. You can get sick from sour milk.
Cellular respiration is when oxygen is used in chemical reactions
within the cells. These reactions release energy and produce carbon
dioxide and water as waste products. Cellular respiration is the source of
energy used to maintain life. energy in respiration is released, and
reactants of respiration is glucose. Two products of respiration are
CO2., and H2O.
Photosynthesis is a food making process that forms in green plants.
Photosynthesis is the chief function of leaves. The word photosynthesis
means putting together with light. Green plants use energy from light to
combine carbon dioxide and water to make food. All our food comes
from this important energy-converting activity of green plants. Light
energy is converted to chemical energy and is stored in the food that is
made by green plants. Animals eat the plants, and we eat animal
products as well as plants. In photosynthesis energy is stored, and
reactants of photosynthesis are CO2, and H2O. Glucose is produced by
photosynthesis.
Diffusion is the mixing of the atoms or molecules of one substance
with those of another. It is caused by the natural movements of atoms
and molecules. Diffusion occurs readily in gases and liquids because of
the constant and random motion of their atoms and molecules. The
process takes place more rapidly in gases than in liquids. Molecules of
gases are farther apart and collide less frequently than those of
liquids--and collisions among molecules hinder diffusion. In solids, the
molecules are arranged in rigid patterns and move very little. Therefore,
diffusion does not occur in solids except under special conditions.
Diffusion uses energy non-stop. The use of energy is used a lot in all of
these processes.
Osmosis is the movement of liquid from one solution through a
special membrane into a more concentrated solution. The process is
essential for the survival of living things. For example, plants absorb
most of their water by osmosis. In animals, osmosis helps regulate the
flow of water and nutrients between body fluids and cells. Industries
reverse osmosis for such purposes as water purification and food
preservation.
An enzyme is a molecule that speeds up chemical reactions in all
living things. Without enzymes, these reactions would occur too slowly or
not at all, and no life would be possible. All living cells make enzymes,
but enzymes are not alive. Enzyme molecules function by altering other
molecules. Enzymes combine with the altered molecules to form a
complex molecular structure in which chemical reactions take place.
The enzyme, which remains unchanged, then separates from the product
of the reaction. Because of this, all enzymes serve as catalysts. Catalysts
are single enzyme molecules that can perform its entire function a
million times a minute. The human body has thousands of kinds of
enzymes. Each kind does one specific job. Without enzymes, a person
could not breathe, see, move, or digest food. Photosynthesis in plants
also depends on enzymes.
In conclusion, these are six processes in life that prove that life
could not exsist wothout them.