Topic 1

The Chemistry of life

Unit one
Molecules for life
 Molecules for life
• Atoms: smallest units of an element.
• Element: pure chemical matter consisting of ONLY
one type of atom.
• Molecules: consist of two or more atoms, which
are bound together in a fixed ratio by chemical
bonds.
• Compounds: matter which consist of TWO or more
DIFFERENT types of elements in a fixed ratio.
• Study key terms p21!!!
Carbon Atom
Molecules
 Molecules for life
• Inorganic compounds: matter which mostly do
not contain carbon ( made by natural
geophysical processes).
• Organic compounds: matter which contains
carbon (biological origin).
• Cells: smallest basic units of all living
organisms.
• Organelles: small functional bodies found in
the cytoplasm of cells.
Human Cell
All matter, living or non-living consist of the small building blocks i.e. atoms.

Atoms of elements such as oxygen (O), Hydrogen (H), and Carbon (C) combine to
form molecules such as water, glucose and carbon dioxide.

In living organisms, molecules bind in specific ways to form organelles, as well as

other cell structures, which forms the basic components of cells.

Molecules found in cells consist of two types i.e. inorganic and organic compounds.

Inorganic compounds Organic Compounds

Do not contain Carbon
E.g. water, minerals, N2, O2,
NaCl
CO2 is an Exception
Contains C, H, O (sometimes
also N, P, S)
E.g. Carbohydrates, lipids,
proteins, nucleic acids,
vitamins, hormones, co-
enzymes

Do Activity 1 p 23 no. 1 - 5
 Unit 2
Inorganic Compounds
• Macro-element: elements needed in large
quantities by living organisms.
• Micro-elements: elements needed in small
quantities by living organisms.
• Chlorosis: mineral deficiency that leads to the
yellowing of leaves in plants due to the decline of
chlorophyll production.
• Eutrophication: abundant growth of water plants
in water ecosystems because of the presence of
agricultural fertilizers and/or raw sewage.
Chlorosis
Eutrophication
 Water
• Consist of H and O.
• Every H2O molecule consist of 2 H atoms and 1
O atom.
• Transparent liquid between 0 and 100 deg C
• Necessary for life.
• Large % of the bodies of living organisms
consist of water.
• The human body consist of 70% water.
 Functions of water
• Solvent for many kinds of molecules.
• Medium in which chemical reactions takes place in
cells.
• Transport medium for nutrients and waste materials.
• Photosynthesis in plants.
• Cooling the surface of the skin in animals (sweat)
• In reproduction
• Support and structure
 Minerals
• Natural inorganic substances
• Needed for chemical activities in living
organisms.
• Most are compounds; consist of a
combination of chemical elements
• Divided in two categories: macro and micro
elements.
 Minerals needed by plants
• Plants obtain minerals from the soil.
• Minerals are absorbed by the roots in a
dissolved state as mineral salts.
 Macro and micro elements needed by
plants
Mineral Function Deficiency
disease/symptom
Macro elements
Calcium (Ca) Forms part of the cell walls Chlorosis
Root development Weak root development
Magnesium (Mg) Needed for the formation Chlorosis
of chlorophyll in leaves
Nitrogen (N) Forms part of Protein and Small leaves
nucleic acids Dwarf growth
Phosphor (P) Forms part of cell Weak root growth
(Phosphates in soil) membranes, proteins, and Dwarf growth
nucleic acids. Necessary for
strong root system
 Macro and micro elements needed by
plants
Mineral Function Deficiency
disease/symptom

Potassium (K) Stimulates early growth Chlorosis, slow growth

Needed for enzymes in Leaves with dead spots
photosynthesis and cellular
respiration
Sulphur (S) Promotes root Chlorosis
development
Forms part of proteins
Micro elements
Iron (Fe) Needed for the forming of Chlorosis
chlorophyll
Zinc(Zn) Forms part of enzymes Weak leaf growth
 Macro and micro elements needed by
plants
Mineral Function Deficiency
disease/symptom

Sodium (Na) Regulates and maintains Slowed growth

water and mineral salt
balance
Iodine (I) Needed for energy release Weak growth
during cellular respiration
 Fertilisers
• Fertilisers are used where crops are grown.
• Natural fertilisers: sewage sludge, animal
manure and compost.
• Artificial fertilisers: most general NPK
fertilisers, contains Nitrogen (N), Phosphor (P)
and Potassium (K).
• Leaching of minerals from soil could pose a
problem.
 Eutrophication
• 1. Fertilisers are washed down to rivers, dams,
lakes and springs (by rainfall/irrigation).
• 2. This causes algae and water plant
overgrowth.
• 3. The water turns green.
• 4. Algae and water plants stop light from
penetrating the water surface.
• 5. Plants could die.
 Eutrophication
• 6. Oxygen levels in the water decreases, which
causes fish and other water organisms to die.
• 7. Bacteria feeds on the decomposing
material, they increase in number, and causes
the oxygen concentration of the water to go
down even further.
• Most living organisms die and the aquatic
ecosystem is destroyed.
• E.g. Hartebeespoortdam and Vaaldam after
floods.
Do Ex 1 no. 14
 Minerals needed by animals
• Anaemia: medical condition where there are
not enough red blood cells in the blood.
• Goitre: swelling of the neck because of an
enlarged thyroid gland.
• Cellular respiration: release of energy in a
living organism, when large molecules are
broken down into smaller molecules.
Anaemia
Goitre
Macro and micro elements needed by
animals
Mineral Function Deficiency
disease/symptom

Calcium (Ca) Needed in the formation of Rickets

teeth and bones
Plays a part in blood
clotting
Magnesium (Mg) Needed in the formation of Soft bones, damaged teeth
teeth and bones
Needed for the functioning
of muscle and nerve fibres
Phosphor (P) Needed in the formation of
teeth and bones
Needed for the functioning
of muscle and nerve fibres
Forms part of cell
membranes and nucleic
acid
 Macro and micro elements needed by animals
Mineral Function Deficiency
disease/symptom

Potassium (K) Heart functioning. Needed Loss of appetite, Weak

for the functioning of muscle function
muscle and nerve fibres
Sodium (Na) Needed for the functioning Muscle cramps/spasms
of muscle and nerve fibres
Regulates osmotic pressure
of body fluids
Sulphur (S) Growth of muscles Metabolic activity is
Forms part of amino acids affected
Iron (Fe) Haemoglobin synthesis Anaemia, lethargy,
headaches
Micro element
Iodine (I) Functioning of thyroid Goitre, limits the growth in
gland which regulates children
metabolism and growth
 Rickets

Do Exercise1 number 1,2,4 and 5