Concentration and Activity

Plugging the Right Numbers Into Energy Calculations

(Thanks to Robert Lindquist, whose book* straightened me out on some of these matters.)
This page is originally authored by Gale Rhodes (© Jan 2000) and is still under continuous update.
The page has been modified with permission by Claude Aflalo (© Jan 2000).

Consider the reaction

2 NADH + 2H+ + O2 --> 2 NAD+ + 2 H2O

occurring in aqueous solution at pH 7.6, [NAD+] = 20.0 mM, [NADH] = 10.0 mM, and oxygen at a partial pressure of 100.0 torr.

The free-energy change for this oxidation of NADH by oxygen is

What numbers should you plug in for the concentration terms?

These terms are properly activities, not concentrations. To convert each concentration into activity, divide it by its standard concentration. This eliminates all units within the logarithm term, because each quantity is divided by a standard concentration in the same units. Here are the details for each type of reactant and product:

Solutes

For dilute (ideal) solutions, the standard state of the solute IS its molar (not millimolar) concentration. So in this calculation, plug in [NAD+] = 0.0200, and [NADH] = 0.0100.

Gases

The standard state for a gas is a pressure of 1 atm or 760 torr. So in this calculation, plug in [O2] = 100 torr/760 torr = 0.132.

Hydrogen Ion

The biochemical standard state for hydrogen ion is pH 7, or 10-7 M. If the pH is 7.6, [H+] = 2.5 x 10-8. So in this calculation, plug in [H+] = (2.5 x 10-8)/(10-7) = 0.251.

NOTE: The prime ['] on DG0' implies that we are using biochemical standard states rather than conventional thermodynamic standard states. In thermodynamics, the standard state for the hydrogen ion is pH = 0 ([H+] = 1.00 M).

Water

The standard state for water is pure water, whose concentration is 55.5 M. In dilute aqueous solutions, the concentration of water is very close to 55.5 M. So in this calculation, plug in [H2O] = 1.00. (NOTE: In a cell, the total solute concentration is high, so the concentration of water is certainly lower than 55.5 M. Nevertheless, biochemists commonly use 1.00 as the activity of water.)

Calculation of the RT ln() Term:

DG = DG0' + 15.3 kJ/mol.

(For an example of DG0' calculation, see Summary of Energy Calculations.)

Summary

Reaction Component
How To Convert To Activity
Example (Quantity => Activity)
Solute
Convert concentration to molarity. Drop units.  [solute] = 2.1 nM => 2.1 x 10-9 
Gas
Divide partial pressure by 1 atm in same units.  P(gas) = 45 kPa => 45/101.3 = .44 
H+
Divide molar concentration by 10-7 M (for biochemical standard state only).  pH = 6 => 10-6 M/10-7 M = 10 
H2O
For dilute solutions, use 1.00. (For concentrated solutions, divide molarity of water by 55.5 M.)  Dilute aqueous solution => 1.00 

* Problems and Solutions to Accompany Rawn: Biochemistry, Neil Patterson Publishers, 1990, p. 157.


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Last update: Dec 1999- Claude Aflalo
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