Subject Code: GEE 1

Subject Title: Environmental Science

Module 2: Energy and Chemistry of Life

I. LEARNING OUTCOMES
Upon the completion of the course, you are expected to:
a) Characterize the six different forms of energy and the type of work done by each form.
b) Demonstrate familiarity with the first and second laws of thermodynamics.
c) Discuss and describe the structure and function of the four major types of organic
compounds.
d) Describe what happens in chemical reactions.

II. LEARNING ACTIVITIES

 Asynchronous discussion.
 Answer the following questions which can be found on the assignment section of
your Canvas.

III. INTRODUCTION
This module comprises six topics which includes the two types of energy, the two laws of
thermodynamics, energy units, matter and organic compounds, the different biochemical
reactions, and water, acids and bases.

WU-P upholds the value of COMPASSION, recent research has shown that
compassionate feelings for the suffering environment promote conservation of nature
(Pfattheicher et al., 2015).

IV. BODY
A. ENERGY
Energy is the ability to do work, whereas work is done when force is applied to an
object over a distance.

Potential Energy – stored energy that depends upon the relative position of various parts
of a system.
Kinetic Energy – any moving object has kinetic energy or energy of motion, and it thus
can-do work.

There are 6 forms of Energy:

1. Mechanical energy – puts something in motion
2. Chemical energy – the energy stored in molecules and chemical compounds
3. Electrical energy – resulting from flow of electric charge

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 4. Radiant energy – energy of electromagnetic waves
5. Thermal or heat energy – energy that comes from the temperature of the heated
substance
6. Nuclear energy – the energy in the nucleus or core of an atom

B. LAW OF THERMODYNAMICS: CONSERVATION OF ENERGY

Thermodynamics – the study of energy

1. First law of thermodynamics - also known as the conservation of energy states
that energy may change from one form to another, but the total amount of energy
will remain constant.
2. Second law of thermodynamics – states that disorganization, or entropy, increases
in natural systems through any spontaneous process.

C. ENERGY UNITS

International System of Units (SI) unit of energy – is the same as the unit of work which
is joule (J), named after James Prescott Joule.
Power – is the rate at which energy is used, the unit of power is Watt (W), named after
James Watt, who perfected the steam engine.
Electrical energy – is generally expressed in kilowatt-hours (kWh)
Heat energy – is often measured in calories

D. MATTER AND ORGANIC COMPOUNDS

Matter - anything that takes up space and has mass. Matter, in turn, is made up of
chemical substances.
Chemical substance – matter that has a definite composition, may be either an element or
a compound.
Element – a pure substance
Atom – the smallest particle of an element that still has the properties of the element.
Compound – a substance that consists of two or more elements.
Chemical bond – a force that holds molecules together.
Chemical reaction – a process that changes some chemical substances into other, needed
to form a compound.
Organic compound – a compound found mainly in living things.
Carbon – the main element in inorganic compounds.

Types of organic compounds:

1. Carbohydrates – provides energy to cells, stores energy, forms body structures
2. Lipids - stores energy, forms cell membranes, carries messages

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 3. Proteins – helps cells keep them shape, makes up muscles, speeds up chemical reactions,
carries messages and materials
4. Nucleic acids – contains instructions for proteins, passes instructions from parents to
offspring, helps make proteins

E. BIOCHEMICAL REACTIONS

Chemical reaction - a process that changes some chemical substances into others.
Reactant – a substance that starts a chemical reaction
Product – a substance that forms as a result of a chemical reaction
Biochemical reactions – are chemical reactions that take place inside the cells of living
things.
Metabolism – the sum of all the biochemical reactions in an organism.
Catabolic reactions – break down of smaller molecules into smaller units and
release energy.
Anabolic reactions – these reactions build up bigger molecules from smaller ones.

F. WATER, ACIDS, AND BASES

Water – water is a simple molecule, containing just three atoms, one oxygen atom and
two hydrogen atoms
Acidity – the concentration of hydronium ions in a solution.
pH scale – measures acidity and basicity
Acid – a solution with a pH lower than 7
Bases – a solution with a pH higher than 7

Note: For more detailed discussion, you can visit the lecture on
https://www.slideshare.net/secret/DIJy4MjTXiyrLA

V. CONCLUSION
Living things consist of matter, which can be an element or compound. Carbon’s ability
to form chemical bonds allows it to form millions of different large, organic compounds. These
compounds make up living things and carry out life processes. A chemical reaction is a process
that changes some chemical substances into others. It involves breaking and forming chemical
bonds. Some chemical reactions release energy, whereas other chemical reactions absorb energy.
Water molecules are polar, so they form hydrogen bonds. This gives water unique properties,
such as a relatively high boiling point. The extremely low hydronium ion concentration of pure
water gives pure water a neutral pH of 7. Acids have a pH lower than 7, and bases have a pH
higher than 7. Water is involved in most biochemical reactions. Therefore, water is essential to
life.

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VI. REFERENCES
Akre B, Brainard J, Goose H, Rogers-Estable, and Stewart R (2011): Introduction to
Environmental Science, FlexBook Platform, USA.

https://www.britannica.com/science/potential-energy

https://cnx.org/contents/xYm49Rsm@1/Derived-copy-of-Bis2A-04-0-Energy-and-
Thermodynamics

Pfattheicher, S., Sassenrath, C., and Schindler, S. (2015). Feelings for the Suffering of
Others and the Environment: Compassion Fosters Proenvironmental Tendencies.
Retrieved: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0013916515574549

Prepared by: Checked by:

Divine Grace S. Batenga, MSc., LPT Dr. Jamaica J. Duldulao

CAS Faculty Program Head
Department of Math and Sciences

Noted by:

Dr. Marietta B. Agustin

Dean
College of Arts and Sciences

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