Chemical Basis of Life in Plants

Inorganic Compounds
 DOES NOT contain in the element Carbon
 DOES NO HAVE C-C or C-H bonds

Three important inorganic compounds for

living organisms
 Water
 Minerals
 Gases – Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide

Which inorganic compound is the exception to

the rule as carbon containing? ______. Why?
Organic compounds are hydrocarbons or
carbon bonded with hydrogen.

Water : 80-90% water in plant body

Water is made up of the elements: – Hydrogen
(2) – Oxygen (1)

1. Water
Why is water essential for cells to function
properly?
– Most chemical reactions essential to cells
would not take place without water.
Yellowing of mature lower leaves- nitrogen is
Properties of water highly mobile in plants
1. Polarity— uneven distribution of electrons
(asymmetrical)
 10 = (8-Oxygen, 1-from each H)
 Covalent bond-strong bond (intramolecular)
 H – bonds – (intermolecular)
FUNCTION:
 Water cohere – attraction with other
water molecules to create a high
surface tension.
 and adhere – attracts with other polar
molecules.
 ionizes substances in solution
 Act as an effective solvent
 Transporting medium (fluidity)
2. High specific heat
- Requires a large amount of energy to
increase the temperature of water to 1oC.
- The strength of intramolecular bonds
(covalent bond) of water molecules does not
break easily at low energy potential
3. High heat of vaporization
— water requires absorption of significant
amounts of heat to change water from a liquid
to a gas, allowing the body to dissipate excess
heat.
Sulfur deficiency: yellowing of leaves in young
plants

Organic Compounds
• Organic compounds: Contain the element
Carbon specifically the C-C and C-H bonds
Micronutrients – required in small amounts • Four groups of organic compounds found in
Micronutrient elements all cells:
 Iron (Fe) • Carbohydrates
 Manganese (Mn) • Lipids
 Boron (B) • Proteins
 Zinc (Zn) • Nucleic Acids
 Molybdenum (Mo)
 Copper (Cu) CARBOHYDRATES
 Chlorine (Cl) • What is the definition of a carbohydrate?
Usually supplied by irrigation water and soil – Energy rich organic compound made up of
Deficiency and toxicity occur at pH extremes the elements carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen -
CHON.
• What are some examples of carbohydrates?
Sugars and Starches.
– Found in almost all foods from fruits and
veggies, to breads and pasta
When is sugar produced in the pant cell?
– During the food making process called
photosynthesis.
• In what organelle does photosynthesis take
place? – The chloroplast
• What is starch? – Starches are many sugars
strung together. – Called complex
carbohydrates – When we eat carbs out
bodies break them down into glucose (sugar).
• What do plant cells use starch for? – To
store excess energy.
• What is the starch that makes up plant cell
walls called? – Cellulose
• Where else in the cell will you find
carbohydrates? – In the membrane
 membrane.
What is an enzyme?
– A type of protein that speeds up chemical
reactions in living cells.
• What would happen if we did not have
enzymes in our cells?
– Many of the essential chemical reactions
in our cells would take too long or not
occur at all

Lipids What is the function of DNA? – Genetic

• What is the definition of a lipid? – Energy material that carries information about an
rich compounds made of carbon, hydrogen, organism, it is passed on from parent to
and oxygen. offspring.
• What are some examples of lipids? – Fats, • Where is DNA found?
oils and waxes – In the chromatin located in the nucleus. •
• What does the cell use lipids for? – To store What is the function of RNA – Helps in the
energy for later use. production of proteins
How are lipids different from carbohydrates in • Where is RNA found? – In the cytoplasm
terms of stored energy? – They store even and in the
more energy. nucleolus.
What cell part is composed of mostly lipids? –
The cell membrane
Protein - Structure
• What is the definition of a protein? – Large
organic molecules made of carbon,
hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and
sometimes sulfur.
• What are the small molecules that make up a
protein? – Amino acids
• How many of these are there?
500 in nature – 20 in human body

Where do we find proteins in the cell?

– Most of the cells organelles are made of
proteins.
– Proteins are an important part of the cell