CHEMISTRY OF LIFE 2

This activity presents the basic chemical processes that occur inside
the body and reflects our basic understanding of these various
mechanisms as they relate to our wholeness as human beings.

Match the different ions with their respective functions and

corresponding chemical symbols in the human body. (There may be
more than one answer in one question.)

1. Calcium
i. HCO3 - a. bone and tooth development
2. Sodium
3. Potassium ii. Fe2+ b. blood clotting, muscle contraction

4. Hydrogen iii. Cl- c. release of neurotransmitters

5. Hydroxide iv. I- d. water balance

6. Bicarbonate v. PO43- e. generation of membrane potentials

7. Ammonium vi. Ca2+ f. membrane potential activation

8. Phosphate vii. Mg2+ g. acid-base balance
9. Chloride
viii. OH- h. enzymatic reactions
10. Iron
ix. K+ i. RBC formation

11. M x. Na+ j. present in thyroid hormones

agnesium xi. NH4+

12. Iodide xii. H+

COMPLETION

Fill in the blanks.

1. A is a combination of two or more atoms
joined by chemical bonds.
2. form when atoms give up or gain electrons
and become either positively or negatively charged.
3. A(n) bond is the strongest of the chemical bonds.
4. Composed of thousand glucose molecules, the “food
storage” polysaccharide in humans is called .
5. and are the building
blocks of the protein
 CRITICAL THINKING

1. The atomic number of Fluorine is 9 and the mass number is

19. What is the number of protons, neutrons, and electrons in
an atom of fluorine?

2. If a base is added to a solution, would the ph of the solution

increase or decrease? If the solution is buffered, what
response from the buffer prevents the change in ph?

3. List the components of an atom and explain how they are

organized to form an atom. Compare the charges of the
subatomic particles.

4. In terms of the energy in chemical bonds, explain why eating

food is necessary for increasing muscle mass.