As we move from physical changes in matter, and the heat changes that accompany them, we can start to examine chemical reactions and how they produce/require heat. Consider the following hypothetical situation : a species of insect produces a ruddy (red-like) glow along the sides of its body, producing two double-strips of red light (bioluminescence). The insect produces this bioluminescence in order to signal its intent to mate or not mate, as the pulsing of the glow communicates quite effectively. It utilized an iron-specific molecule as a product of a chemical reaction. When you touch this insect, it feels rather warm to the touch, to the point of burning your skin. How would you explain this, and how would you explain why the insect does not combust, given how much heat it produces?
Remember that this week starts the 'Compare & Response' requirement of the blog: that not only must you respond to the above question, you must also respond to at least one other student's posting or comment--if you agree, why? if you disagree, why? . . .and be sure to use evidence and logical reasoning to justify your claim.
5 comments:
Bioluminescence is the production of light from a living organism. Bioluminescence is a form of Chemiluminescence where energy is released from a chemical reaction in the form of visible light. Many insects produce a visible light emission as a result of chemicals they produce inside their bodies. These chemicals are Luciferin and Luciferase. The luciferin in the reaction is a pigment that when reacted with oxygen creates a visible light. The Luciferase is an enzyme that acts as a catylist speeding up the reaction. Bioluminescence is used by many different species to do many different things. Some species use it to ward off predators and some species use it to attract mates. The light produced from Bioluminescence is usually not heat producing. The reason that no heat is produced is because instead of wasting energy in the form of heat, the creature will use the energy only to light itself up. It can be assumed that if the beetle is heating up, the beetle doesn’t not effectively light up. Because the bug doesn’t effectively light up it would probably die quickly as a result of its poorly equipped skill sets. If the insect was releasing heat from the its surface, it would mean that it is using its ATP in the wrong way. The insect would not combust because in order for something to combust it needs to reach temperatures exceeding 200 degrees Celsius. And it extremely unlikely that any animal would be able to make itself reach that temperature without outside sources of energy.
Bioluminescence is the production of light from a living organism. Bioluminescence is a form of Chemiluminescence where energy is released from a chemical reaction in the form of visible light. Many insects produce a visible light emission as a result of chemicals they produce inside their bodies. These chemicals are Luciferin and Luciferase. The luciferin in the reaction is a pigment that when reacted with oxygen creates a visible light. The Luciferase is an enzyme that acts as a catylist speeding up the reaction. Bioluminescence is used by many different species to do many different things. Some species use it to ward off predators and some species use it to attract mates. The light produced from Bioluminescence is usually not heat producing. The reason that no heat is produced is because instead of wasting energy in the form of heat, the creature will use the energy only to light itself up. It can be assumed that if the beetle is heating up, the beetle doesn’t not effectively light up. Because the bug doesn’t effectively light up it would probably die quickly as a result of its poorly equipped skill sets. If the insect was releasing heat from the its surface, it would mean that it is using its ATP in the wrong way. The insect would not combust because in order for something to combust it needs to reach temperatures exceeding 200 degrees Celsius. And it extremely unlikely that any animal would be able to make itself reach that temperature without outside sources of energy.
Bioluminescence is the production of light from a living organism. Bioluminescence is a form of Chemiluminescence where energy is released from a chemical reaction in the form of visible light. Many insects produce a visible light emission as a result of chemicals they produce inside their bodies. These chemicals are Luciferin and Luciferase. The luciferin in the reaction is a pigment that when reacted with oxygen creates a visible light. The Luciferase is an enzyme that acts as a catylist speeding up the reaction. Bioluminescence is used by many different species to do many different things. Some species use it to ward off predators and some species use it to attract mates. The light produced from Bioluminescence is usually not heat producing. The reason that no heat is produced is because instead of wasting energy in the form of heat, the creature will use the energy only to light itself up. It can be assumed that if the beetle is heating up, the beetle doesn’t not effectively light up. Because the bug doesn’t effectively light up it would probably die quickly as a result of its poorly equipped skill sets. If the insect was releasing heat from the its surface, it would mean that it is using its ATP in the wrong way. The insect would not combust because in order for something to combust it needs to reach temperatures exceeding 200 degrees Celsius. And it extremely unlikely that any animal would be able to make itself reach that temperature without outside sources of energy.
Most animals such as humans take in light and can process the rays and create images based off of them, however some animals such as deep sea fish generate their own light. This is called bioluminensence. Bioluminensence is the ability of a living organism to produce light through chemical reactions within its body. Deep sea fish who create bioluminensent light live in what is called the “twilight zone”, the sun does not reach down to the ocean floor, the only light that has short enough wavelenghts to be seen is blue-green light. These fish produce bluish green light that can help them attract pray as well as catch it. The light that is created by all animals including the deep sea fish can offer help to each different species in various ways. Fireflys create light for communication, other animals use it for cammoflauge. But what is really important is how these animals create the light. The luciferin which is a molecule that must react with the enzyme luciferase allows the luciferin to oxidize and release different colors of light. This process of bioluminensence relates to chemiluminescence which is the same process however is not a naturally occurring reaction.
Bioluminescence is visible light emitted by a living organism. We know bioluminescence as cold light emission because less than 20% of light produced generates thermal radiation. Bioluminescence is created when luciferin is oxidized and turns into luciferase to create light. Luciferase is a catalyst which speeds up the reaction to create light, ATP and calcium ions help mediate the reaction. Animals use this form of light to hide, mate, and seek prey. Bioluminescence is extremely efficient light so it does not produce a lot of heat like the incandescent lights that heat up inside your house. Since bioluminescence is cold light there is not enough heat produced to burn a humans skin. If this bug somehow was able to create this great amount of heat it would combust. It would need to exceed 212 degrees to combust because that is the temperature of boiling water. The bug could also burn your skin, but not combust because your skin burns at a fairly low temperature and the molecules inside the bug would have to reach at least 212 degrees for combustion to occur.
Post a Comment