Chemistry of Life

Terms to Know
• Chemistry • Elements
 The study of matter • Basic or fundamental substance
that can not be broken down by
ordinary chemical means
• Matter
 Anything that occupies space and has weight • Atoms
• Basic unit of matter
• Organic Chemistry • Smallest unit of
 The study of ________________ substances

• Inorganic Chemistry
 The study of non-carbon containing substances
 3 States of Matter
• Solid
 Has a definite shape and volume

• Liquid
 Takes on the shape of the container it is in

• Gases
 Has neither a shape or a volume
 Atoms
• Composed of three sub-atomic particles
 Neutrons  found in the nucleus and has ___________________
 Protons  found in the nucleus and has a positive charge
 Electrons  encircle the nucleus in orbits and have a negative charge

• All protons are alike, all neutrons are alike and all electrons are alike
 The difference is the number of each found on the atom

• Atomic Number  # of protons in the nucleus

• Atomic Weight  # of protons and neutrons in the nucleus
 Example: Hydrogen has 1 proton, 0 neutrons
 Example: Helium has 2 protons, 2 neutrons
 Terminology
• Isotopes
 Atom with the same atomic number but a different atomic weight

• Radioisotopes
 Isotopes that are unstable and will decay into more simple substances by giving off waves or particles
 These are radioactive
 Damaging to tissues  used to destroy cells
 Elements
• Fundamental substance that cannot be broken down by ordinary chemical means
 A simple element contains identical atoms

• 4 Common Elements of the Body

1. ________________
2. ________________
3. Oxygen
4. Nitrogen

 The body also contains other essential trace elements

 Chemical Interactions
• Electrons surround the nucleus of the cell in orbits
called shells
 The number of shells varies from atom to atom

• Each electron shell holds a specific number of electrons

 Inner shell  2
 2nd and 3rd  8
 If not full then that shell is unstable
 The only important electrons are the ones in the outer shell
because this is used for bonding
 The outer shells of two atoms are attracted to each other
when they are not full and by bonding together they achieve
stability = CHEMICAL BOND
Types of Chemical
Bonds
• _________ Bonds
 Formed by electrons transferring to stabilize
shells of atom
 These types of bonds will usually dissolve in
water - electrolytes
 Example: Sodium & Chloride
Types of Chemical
Bonds
• Covalent Bonds
 Formed by the sharing of electrons by the outer
shells of atoms
 Carbon atoms always have this type of bond
 Very strong bond
Types of Chemical
Bonds
• Hydrogen Bonds
 Formed by intermolecular bonds,
this does not involve sharing or
transferring electrons but contains a
hydrogen atom
 Very weak bond
 This type of bond helps shape DNA
 Ion Formation
• Ion  an atom that gains or loses electrons, therefore carries an electrical charge

 Cations
 _____________ charged ions
 Anything that has a ___ sign

 Anions
 _____________ charged ions
 Anything with a ___ sign
 Electrolytes

• Particles that will ___________________________

• Capable of conducting an electrical current

 NaCl
Molecules & Compounds

• Molecules  substances formed from two or more atoms

• Compound  substances that are formed when 2 or more

different atoms bond
 Chemical Reactions
• Process where atoms of molecules or compounds interact to form a new chemical combination
 Example: Glucose + Oxygen  CO2 + H2O + energy

• ____________________
 Speeds up the rate of a chemical reaction

• Enzyme
 A protein that performs the role of a catalyst
 Chemical Reactions
• Anabolic Reactions
 When two or more atoms, ions or molecules combine to for new and larger molecules
 Store energy

• Catabolic Reactions
 When larger molecules are split up into smaller atoms, ions or molecules
 Release energy

• Exchange Reactions
 Consists of both anabolic and catabolic components (ions switch partners)

• Oxidation-Reduction Reactions
 Oxidation- loss of electrons
 Reduction- gain of electrons
Inorganic Compounds
and Solutions
 Water Functions

1) ______________________

2) Temperature Regulator

3) Lubricant

4) Helps Chemical reactions

5) Protection (Found in CSF and Amniotic Fluid)

Acid/Base Balance
A normal functioning
body requires a Acid Base
balance
• Electrolyte that • Electrolyte that
disassociates into combines with H+
hydrogen ion (H+) and eliminates it
• The amount of H+ • Usually neutralize
determines the the acid by
strength of the acid producing salt and
water
• Usually contain OH-
 Acid/Base Balance
• pH Scale
• Used to measure the acidity or alkalinity
• Ranges from 0 to 14
 pH less than 7 = acidic
 pH 7 = neutral
 pH more than 7 = alkaline

• Normal pH of the blood is __________________

 Controlled by buffer systems, respiratory system and renal system

• Normal pH of the stomach is 1.0 – 4.0

• Normal pH of urine is 5.0 – 8.0
Organic Compounds
Types of Organic Compounds
• Carbohydrates
• Lipids
• Proteins
• Nucleic Acids Carbon Containing Compounds
• Adenosine Triphosphate
Carbohydrates
• Sugars, starches, cellulose and glycogen
• Main source of energy ________________
• Three groups
 Monosaccharides
 Simple sugars (Glucose, Fructose and Lactose)
 Disaccharides
 Combination of two monosaccharides
 Sucrose, Lactose Maltose
 Polysaccharides
 Contain tens to hundreds of monosaccharides
 Glycogen, starches and cellulose
Lipids
• Fatty Acids • Phospholipids
 Saturated  Fatty acid chain with phosphate group
 Used to make cell membrane
 Saturated with Hydrogen
 Unsaturated

• Triglycerides • Steroids
 Most plentiful lipid  Cholesterol, Estrogen,
 Most highly concentrated Testosterone and Cortisol
form of chemical energy  Used for cell membranes
Proteins
• More complex that carbohydrates and lipids
• Largely responsible for body tissues
• _____________________ are the building blocks and are held together by peptide
bonds
• Most catalysts are protein molecules called enzymes
Nucleic Acids
• Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) • Ribonucleic Acid (RNA)
 Genetic material inside cells  Relays instructions from the
genes to guide cells synthesis of
 Form a double helix (spiral proteins
ladder)
 Single stranded
 Base Proteins
 Adenine – Thymine
 Uracil replaced thymine
 Guanine - Cytosine
Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP)
• Provides energy to all living cells
• Contains 3 Phosphate groups
 Released a phosphate group to produce energy  ______
 Then new phosphate needs to be attached again by breaking down
glucose  Cellular Respiration

 Anaerobic  do not require oxygen

 Aerobic  requires oxygen