COMPOSITION OF CELLS.

All substances are either ORGANIC or

INORGANIC.
Living things are composed of organic
substances, but they also contain
inorganic substances.

ORGANIC molecules always contain

carbon atoms. They are relatively complex
and contain hydrocarbon groups.
The major groups of organic
molecules found in cells are:
o CARBOHYDRATES.
o LIPIDS.
o PROTEINS.
o NUCLEIC ACIDS.

INORGANIC molecules do not usually

contain carbon atoms and are found in
living and non-living things. They are
relatively simple and do not contain
hydrocarbon groups (characteristic
compounds found in living things that
contain carbon and hydrogen).
o Some simple carbon
compounds, including carbon
dioxide (CO2), are often
considered to be inorganic even
though they contain carbon.

Cells are composed of chemicals. The main

molecule found in cells is water.
All chemical reactions in organisms take
place in solution in water.
Water has high heat capacity (meaning
that it can absorb a great deal of heat
with very little increase in temperature).

INORGANIC SUBSTANCES.
The inorganic substances found in cells include:
o WATER (H2O).

o OXYGEN (O2)
Needed in most cells to release
energy from food molecules
Usually gained from the atmosphere
(21% O2) or water (which contains

far less O2 because it is not very

soluble in water).

o CARBON DIOXIDE (CO2).

Carbon is the key atom in organic

molecules.
CO2 is gained from the atmosphere
by plants, some bacteria and
protista and used in the process of
photosynthesis to make sugars.
o NITROGEN (N).
Required by organisms in large
amounts because it is a key
component of all proteins and
nucleic acids.
Is gained from the atmosphere (N2)
by bacteria by nitrogen fixation.

o MINERALS.
Biologically important minerals
include:
Phosphorus.
Potassium.
Calcium.
Magnesium.
Iron.
Sodium.
Iodine.
Sulfur.