Re: energy in the tank

[Jim Green <JMGreen@SISNA.COM>]

>  The energy is released (if it is OK to say
> that) when the new bonds are formed, a step often ignored in biochem
> shorthand. So we wind up saying half-baked things such as, "Energy is
> released when a high energy phosphate bond in ATP is broken."

Jon, if  you and others continue to use language that reifies energy , you
will have to live with consequences like  "[The substance of ] Energy is
released when a high energy phosphate bond in ATP is broken."  Say  it
correctly -- however cumbersome  that may be -- and it will be
clear.  I  don't  know/remember the mechanisms  of the various ADP
reactions, but when  work is done by anything on anything else the property
of energy of each of these things is changed.  It isn't that a substance is
"released" or "transported" or "moved" in any way.  There is no such
"thing" as energy.  "Energy" is a mathematical invention.


Jim Green
mailto:JMGreen@sisna.com
http://users.sisna.com/jmgreen