How Do Chemical Structures Affect Metabolism and Excretion?
The metabolism and excretion of substances are heavily influenced by chemical structure. Phase I and Phase II metabolic reactions, primarily occurring in the liver, often involve modifications to the chemical structure to make compounds more water-soluble for excretion. The presence of specific _functional groups_, such as hydroxyl or carboxyl groups, can significantly alter how a compound is metabolized and eliminated from the body.
