HFDS 130

The Chemistry of Life

Atom Basic Unit of Matter

!
 Parts of an Atom

NEUTRON
no charge

ELECTRON
negatively charged PROTON
positively charged
 Purest form of a
Many of the same Atom = Element substance that
cannot be broken
down into simpler
forms by ordinary
means
Which are the 4 major elements in the body?
9 minerals?
13 trace elements?
 26 Elements of the Human Body
CHON
• Carbon
4 Major •
•
Hydrogen
Oxygen What is
• Nitrogen
•
•
Sodium
Calcium
• Chlorine the most
• Magnesium
9 Minerals •
•
•
Potassium
Phosphorus
Sulfur
•
•
Iron
Iodine
abundant
•
•
Boron
Fluoride
•
•
Copper
Zinc
element in
•
13 Trace
the body?
Aluminium
• Silicone
• Selenium
Elements • Vanadium
• Molybdenum
• Manganese
• Chromium
• Cobalt
• Tin
But elements do not exist
in the body as elements
alone but as what?
 Compounds
• 2 or more atoms from 1 or
more elements are
chemically combined to
form another substance

Smallest unit of a compound?

MOLECULE
Examples of Compounds
 Question:

Most abundant compound in the body?

Water comprises around 60% of our body
 Predict Questions
Trivia Question

Who has more water relative to the body

surface area or are they the same?

a) 60kg Adult Male

b) 60kg Adult Female
Males have more water Males have more muscle.
than females. Why? Females have more fat.
Males have more muscle.
Females have more fat.

Females have evolved to have

their bodies equipped to
protect her and her baby.
• More enzymes for storing fat
• Less enzymes for burning fat
Which body fluid compartment has more water?

Intracellular
Fluid?

Extracellular
fluid?
INTRAcellular
fluid has
more water
FUNCTIONS of WATER in the Body
1. LUBRICANT, MOISTENING & PROTECTIVE
AGENT
2. BODY TEMPERATURE REGULATION
3. CARRIER* of NUTRIENTS, GASES & WASTES
*Hydrophilic compounds (water-loving)
Hydrophobic compounds (water-fearing)
hydro- water philos- love; phobia- fear
4. DISSOLVING AGENT

Universal function of water?

Compounds vs Mixtures

not chemically
combined but
only physically

have distinctly
AKA solutions
visible parts
 Types of Mixtures
Types Appearance Distribution Separation of Examples in
of Compounds the Body
Compound
SOLUTION Homogenous s
Solute is None even if Tears, sweat
(-) Tyndall dissolved in allowed to
solvent stand
SUSPENSION Heterogenous Solute is Yes if not Circulating
(+) Tyndall dispersed in constantly whole blood
solvent mixed

COLLOID Heterogenous Solute is None even if Plasma of

(gel, emulsion, dispersion evenly not constantly blood
etc.) (+) Tyndall dispersed in mixed
solvent
Tyndall Effect
 Compounds Which bond is stronger?
Sharing or Taking?

2 Types of Compounds
based on how they are
formed
1. Ionic Compounds
IONIC bonding
bond between two ions of opposite
charges and involves transfer of electrons

2. Covalent Compounds
COVALENT bonding
bond between two nonmetals and
involves sharing of electrons
 Ionic Compounds
• Capable of dissociating into
Ca+ions and Anions
and carry and electrical
charge when dissolved in
________

Na+ and Cl- and other ions

are now seen in the body as
ELECTROLYTES
*Note: Ions and electrolytes are interchangeable terms
 Types of Ionic Compounds
1. Salts -break up completely into ions
NaCl KCl CaCl2 NaHCO3

2. Acids -act as proton or H+ ion donors

HCl H2SO4 CH3COOH HF H2CO3

3. Bases -act as proton or H+ ion acceptors

NaOH NH3
 Salts
-break up completely into ions/electrolytes
-formed by combining an acid and a base
-dissociates into a cation (not H+) and an anion (not OH-)
NaCl

(Acid) (Base) (Salt) (Water) KCl

H2CO3 + NaOH + H2O NaHCO3

(Salt) (Cation) (Anion) CaCl2
H2O
NaHCO3 Na + HCO3
+ -

Function of Sodium Bicarbonate in the Body?

 Functions
of
Electrolytes
Hypermagnesemia
-elevated Mg
Hypomagnesemia
-low Mg
 Clinical Significance of Electrolytes
Role in Diagnostic Tests:
1.ECG (electro-cardio-gram) ❤
2.EEG (electro-encephalo-gram) "

•Electrolytes/ions produce electric current as

waves when they move in and out of the cells
during heart muscle and brain cell activity

•Paper Recordings of electric wave patterns-

to diagnose normal or abnormal conditions
•
 pH
• Measure of acidity and
alkalinity of a substance

• Depends on the amount of

Hydrogen ions present
power of Hydrogen

ACIDIC = Less than 7 [H+] > [OH-]

NEUTRAL = 7 [H+] = [OH-]
BASIC = More than 7 [H+] < [OH-]
 pH of Body Fluids
Stomach pH: Highly Acidic

Vaginal pH: Mildly Acidic

Blood pH: Mildly Alkali

Urine pH: Variable (depends on

food, meds taken,
body conditions,
hydration state)
 Acids
-act as proton or H+ ion donors
-makes pH lower or higher? LOWER
2 Types
1. STRONG acids

H2SO4 HF HCl Function of HCl in the body?

Used in digestion
2. WEAK acids
Function of Carbonic Acid in the body?
CH3COOH H2CO3
Used as buffers in the blood
 Buffers
• Substances that resist drastic changes in pH
• Used by the body to maintain the acidity capable of
sustaining life
 Buffers

Bicarbonate buffer system

- uses bicarbonate ion
- found in the blood
2. Phosphate buffer system
- uses dihyrogen phosphate
- found in the internal fluid of cells
3. Protein buffer system
- uses hemoglobin, proteins
containing the amino acid histidine
- found in and around the cells
 Bases
-act as proton or
H+ ion acceptors
-makes pH lower or higher? HIGHER
-makes pH alkaline
2 Types
1. STRONG bases
NaOH NaClO

2. WEAK bases
NH3
 pH of Blood
Blood pH: Mildly Alkali

At what pH level would

you consider Blood to
start becoming:

Acidic? pH < 7.35

Alkali? pH > 7.45

*Normal Blood pH is 7.35 to 7.45

 Doktor-doktoran Time #$
If you have a lung disease where
carbon dioxide is not efficiently
eliminated & accumulates in the blood
causing an abnormal increase in its
levels:
 Doktor-doktoran Time #$
If you have a lung disease where
carbon dioxide is not efficiently
eliminated & accumulates in the blood
causing an abnormal increase in its
levels:
•Amount of Hydrogen ions level in the
blood? ↑or↓
•Above or below the normal pH range?
•Acidosis or Alkalosis?
•Substances used to resist pH changes
in blood?
 Compounds
Smallest unit of a Smallest unit of a
simple compound? complex compound?
MOLECULE MACROMOLECULE