Almost everything cells do involves chemical reactions. Cells are either breaking down molecules or they are building them. They are either releasing energy or using energy.
If the reaction breaks a molecule down into its building blocks, it is called catabolic. Catabolic reactions release energy.
If the reaction builds a molecule from its building blocks, it is called anabolic. Anabolic reactions use energy.
In essence, catabolism and anabolism are the exact opposite of each other. Let's look at an example.
Cells in the leaf of a potato plant will take water and carbon dioxide and build molecules of glucose in the presence of sunlight. Since this requires an input of energy and results in a more complex molecule, this is anabolic.
Some of these glucose molecules may be used to build cellulose, the main component of plant cell walls. This would also be anabolic, since it is building a complex molecule out of simpler ones.
Other glucose molecules will be broken back down into water and carbon dioxide. This will release the energy that was stored in the molecule (catabolic), and the cell can then use that energy to fuel other anabolic processes that it needs to carry out.
Below choose Catabolic reactions OR Anabolic reactions. Type the correct response to start each sentence. Remember catabolic means breaking down and anabolic means building up.
Anabolic reactions take place when cells in the leaf of a potato plant take water and carbon dioxide and build molecules of glucose in the presence of sunlight.
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