Inorganic

Compounds
The Chemical Basis of Life
01. 02.
Water Electrolytes
Essential for Life Voltage regulators

03. 04.
Acids and Bases Carbon Dioxide
Buffers Essential for Plants
 Chemistry 101
All living organisms and all the things
in the physical environment are made
up of matter
“All matter is composed of ATOMS:
tiny, indivisible, and indestructible
building blocks.”

— John Dalton
Atom
Element
Compound

Proton, +
Organic
Neutron
ionic bond Inorganic
Electron, -
covalent bond

hydrogen bond
Water is essential to life
Water

➔ The most abundant inorganic

compound
➔ 75 to 85 percent inside cells
➔ “Universal solvent”
Chemistry of Water

➔ H2O
➔ polar
molecule
➔ weak H
bonds
Properties of Water
Biological solvent
➔ Has the ability to dissolve
many substances due to its
polarity
➔ Can break ionic bonds
Properties of Water
Biological solvent
Properties of Water
Biological solvent
Properties of Water
Cohesion

➔ Has the ability to stick to one

another through its hydrogen
atoms
➔ Excellent transport system
Properties of Water
Cohesion
Properties of Water
Cohesion
Properties of Water
Adhesion

➔ Has the ability to cling to other

polar surfaces
➔ Excellent transport system
Properties of Water
Adhesion
Properties of Water
Adhesion
Properties of Water
High surface tension

➔ Strongly attract each other,

due to hydrogen bonding
Properties of Water
High surface tension
Properties of Water
High surface tension
Properties of Water
High heat capacity
➔ Has a specific heat of 4182
J/kg°C
➔ Can maintain constant body
temperature
➔ Adaptation is attained
Properties of Water
High heat capacity
Properties of Water
High heat of vaporization

➔ A large amount of heat is

needed to turn liquid water
into gas or vapor
➔ 100 degrees Celsius
Properties of Water
High heat of vaporization
Properties of Water
High heat of fusion

➔ A large amount of heat is

needed to be removed from
liquid water to turn it into solid
ice.
➔ 0 degrees Celsius
Properties of Water
High heat of fusion
Properties of Water
Medium for chemical processes

➔ Provides a medium for the

formation and breakdown of
food
➔ Glucose: condensation and
hydrolysis
Properties of Water
Medium for chemical processes
Properties of Water
Medium for chemical processes
Properties of Water
Moisturizer

➔ For gas exchange via

diffusion
➔ And surfaces
Properties of Water
Moisturizer
Properties of Water
Moisturizer
Properties of Water
Moisturizer
Properties of Water
Lubricant

➔ Prevents friction
Properties of Water
Lubricant
Properties of Water
Lubricant
Properties of Water
Lubricant
Properties of Water
Cushion
➔ Protection from damage
Properties of Water
Cushion
Properties of Water
Cushion