BIOL 1115: General Biology I Name: Denise Pangilinan

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Chapter 2 Reading Guide and Pre-Lecture Assignment

Chapter 2 Reading Guide and Pre-Lecture Assignment

Read the following sections of the chapter and answer the corresponding questions in the spaces provided.
2.1 Atoms, Ions, and Molecules: The Building Blocks of Chemical Evolution

What is an element?
An element is made up of its own atom thus to not being able to be broken down into any other substance.
List the three sub-atomic particles. What is the location and charge of each of these particles?
1. Proton – in nucleus, positive charge
2. Neutron – in nucleus, electrically neutral
3. Electron – orbiting around nucleus (orbital), negative charge

Define the following terms:

Isotope: element forms with different amount of neutrons

Ion: an atom/molecule that carries a full charge

Molecule: substances held together by covalent bonds (H-H or H2)

Chemical bond: attractions that bind atoms together

This determines the ability of atoms to form bonds with other atoms: number of valence electrons

Draw an atom of each of the following elements. Be sure to illustrate the electron configuration for each.
What is the valence for each element?

Carbon Hydrogen

6 electrons 1 electron

Oxygen Nitrogen

8 electrons 7 electrons
BIOL 1115: General Biology I Name: Denise Pangilinan
___________________________________
Chapter 2 Reading Guide and Pre-Lecture Assignment
2.2 Properties of Water and the Early Oceans
Draw a water molecule.

Define the following terms:

Solvent: agent for dissolving, or getting substances into solution

Solute: substances that are dissolved in a solvent

Solution:

Acid: substances that give up their protons and raise the hydronium ion concentration

Base: molecules/ions that acquire protons and lower the hydronium ion concentration

Buffer: compounds that minimized pH changes

Describe what happens during a chemical reaction.

Chemical reactions transform energy through release of energy stored in chemical bonds or the uptake of energy
from external sources. They tend to be spontaneous if they lead to lower potential energy and higher entropy.

2.3 Chemical Reactions, Energy, and Chemical Evolution

Define the following terms:
System: collective substances such as the reactants and products

Endothermic: absorbs heat and cool the surroundings

Exothermic: releases heat causing the surrounding’s temperature to rise

Energy: capacity to do work or supply heat

BIOL 1115: General Biology I Name: Denise Pangilinan
___________________________________
Chapter 2 Reading Guide and Pre-Lecture Assignment
What are the two types of energy? Give an example of each.

Potential energy – a book resting on a table

Kinetic energy – moving car

2.5 The Importance of Organic Molecules

Define the term organic molecules.
Many molecules that contain carbon bonded to other elements

Describe two reasons why carbon is important for life.

1. It is the most versatile atom on earth
2. Most living things are made of carbon
3. List the four major classes of organic molecules in the table below. Three of these classes form true polymers;
for each of these three classes, list the general terms used to name the monomers and polymers, and the types
of covalent bonds (i.e., linkage) that attach monomers together. Describe the major function(s) of each class.

Class of Monomers Polymers Type of Linkage Functions

Organic
Molecule
Monosaccharide Polysaccharide Glycosidic Quick energy
Carbohydrates Energy storage
Structure of cell walls
Fatty acid Lipid Ester Energy storage
Lipids Glycerol Insulation
Membranes
structures
Amino acids Polypeptide Peptide Build structures
Enzymes
Proteins Transport
Receptors
Nucleotide Nucleic acid Phosphodiester Information storage
Nucleic Acids Information transfer
Protein synthesis