Elimination Reactions and Isomerization Reactions

Another class of reactions are elimination reactions. These involve the elimination of atoms from a molecule and result in the formation of carbon- carbon double bonds. Molecules that can be eliminated include, among others, water, ammonia, and hydroxyls. Isomerization reactions involve intramolecular shifting of hydrogen atoms. The products of an isomerization reaction have the same atomic components but are found in a different conformation.



Again, these descriptions of metabolic reactions are just simple introductions so that we can use them in our discussion of glycolysis and the citric acid cycle. The specifics of these reactions use organic chemistry that is not covered here.