Chapter 2

Matter, Energy, & Life

Chapter 2.1: Matter

Discussion:

What is matter?

What are atoms?

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Chapter 2.1: Matter

● Different types of atoms are called elements.

● The periodic table organizes elements horizontally by
atomic number and vertically (columns) by shared
chemical properties.
● Each atom of an element has a certain number of
subatomic particles (protons, electrons, neutrons)
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Chapter 2.1: Matter
Think-pair-share with someone sitting next to you:

What is the difference between the an element’s atomic number

and its mass number? What does each number tell us?

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 Chapter 2.1: Matter
Atoms of an element can vary in their number of electrons and
neutrons

Isotopes: have a different number of neutrons and thus a different atomic

mass.

Ions: have different number of electrons and thus are electrically

charged.

Note: all atoms of an element must have the same number of protons, as
the number of protons defines the element!
 Chapter 2.1: Matter
Discussion:

Organisms are mostly made of molecules, not just lone atoms. What
is a molecule and how are they made?
 Chapter 2.1: Matter
Chemical bonds bring atoms together

Ionic bond - the attraction between oppositely charged ions

Covalent bond - when two atoms share a pair of electrons

Hydrogen bond - the attraction between two polar molecules, due to

differences in charge
 Chapter 2.1: Matter
Water is a molecule that is vital to life. Why?

● Water is polar

● Water stabilizes temperature

● Water is an excellent solvent
● Water is cohesive
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Chapter 2.1: Matter
pH is an important environmental variable

● pH is a measurement of the hydrogen ion

concentration of a solution
● Acids increase hydrogen ion concentration
● Bases lower hydrogen ion concentration
● Buffers minimize changes in hydrogen ion
concentration This Photo by Edward Stevens is licensed under CC BY
 Chapter 2.1: Matter
Organic molecules are carbon-based and contain hydrogen

4 major classes in organisms:

● Carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids, and proteins

Discussion: What are some important properties and functions of

each major class?
Chapter 2.2: Energy
Bioenergetics - energy flow through
living systems

Metabolism - all of the chemical

reactions that take place inside cells

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 Chapter 2.2: Energy
Discussion: What is energy and why do living things require it?

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Chapter 2.2: Energy
● Energy: the capacity to do work
● Work: energy used to move matter
● Types of energy:
○ Kinetic energy is energy associated with movement or work
■ Heat is random kinetic energy
○ Potential energy is stored energy related to its structure or
position
 Chapter 2.2: Energy
1st law of thermodynamics: Energy can be changed from one form
to another, but energy cannot be created or destroyed

● In other words, energy is conserved

2nd law of thermodynamics: All energy transfers and are never

completely efficient - some amount of energy is lost.

● Entropy increases as systems increase in randomness

 Chapter 2.3: A Cell is the Smallest Unit of Life
Life is organized
at different levels:

credit “molecule”: modification of work by Jane Whitney; credit “organelles”: modification of work by Louisa Howard; credit
“cells”: modification of work by Bruce Wetzel, Harry Schaefer, National Cancer Institute; credit “tissue”: modification of work
by “Kilbad”/Wikimedia Commons; credit “organs”: modification of work by Mariana Ruiz Villareal, Joaquim Alves Gaspar;
credit “organisms”: modification of work by Peter Dutton; credit “ecosystem”: modification of work by “gigi4791″/Flickr; credit
“biosphere”: modification of work by NASA
Chapter 2.3: A Cell is the Smallest Unit of Life
Cell Theory
1. All living things are composed of one or more cells.
2. Cells are the smallest units of living organisms.
3. New cells come only from pre-existing cells by cell division
 Chapter 2.3: A Cell is the Smallest Unit of Life
There are 2 basic categories of cell types, for all organisms
Prokaryotic: lack membrane-bound organelles

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 Chapter 2.3: A Cell is the Smallest Unit of Life
There are 2 basic categories of cell types, for all organisms
Eukaryotic: have membrane-bound organelles

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Chapter 2.4 Energy Enters Ecosystems through
Photosynthesis
Summary of photosynthesis

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Chapter 2.4 Energy Enters Ecosystems through
Photosynthesis
Summary of photosynthesis

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 Chapter 2.4 Energy Enters Ecosystems through
Photosynthesis
Photosynthesis takes place in two major stages:
1. Light-dependent reactions: chlorophyll absorbs energy from
sunlight and then converts it into chemical energy with the aid of
water.
2. Calvin Cycle uses the chemical energy made in the light-
dependent reactions to transform carbon dioxide molecules into
sugar molecules.
 Chapter 2.4 Energy Enters Ecosystems through
Photosynthesis
Photosynthesis is globally significant!
● It creates O2 (which makes possible the production of O3, also)
● It provides energy for nearly all ecosystems.
● It provides the carbon needed for organic molecules.

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Chapter 2 Reflection

Take five minutes to write in your notebooks on the

following:

What are 3 or 4 of the most important concepts in this

chapter, and briefly explain why you think they are
important.