1.2. (8/28) Properties for Life Flashcards

(water, energy, nutrients, light)

1
Q

What makes water an excellent solvent?

A

polar: positive charge on one side, negative charge on the other
- dissolves stuff

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2
Q

Why is water’s ability to dissolve most substances important to life?

A

facilitates chemical reactions, good medium for molecular processes

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3
Q

What is a property that is only unique to water?

A

it is the only thing that keeps its liquid form over a range of temperatures

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4
Q

Why is water’s ability to stay in liquid form important to life?

A

it is everywhere and available

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5
Q

What is water resistant to?

A

changes in internal temperature and state
- slower
- stable

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6
Q

How do we know water resists changes in state?

A
  • it takes 500x energy to evaporate
  • you need to remove 80x heat to freeze it
  • easier to raise temperature 1 degree celcius
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7
Q

Why is this stability and resistance important to life?

A

it allows life to exist at many different temperatures and facilitates homeostasis

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8
Q

What is unique about water when it comes to density?

A

It is at its most dense at 4 degrees Celsius

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9
Q

Why is this density characteristic important to life?

A

water retains its liquid form even when there is ice on top

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10
Q

How many times denser is water compared to air?

A

800x

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11
Q

How do aquatic organisms achieve neutral density?

A
  • reduced hard skeletal components
  • bladders filled with gas
  • accumulate lipids
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12
Q

How do organisms combat the viscosity of water?

A

to be fast: streamlined
to be suspended: parachutes

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13
Q

Why is water’s fluidity, buoyancy, and viscosity properties important to life?

A

developed different kinds of mechanisms for movement

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14
Q

How do animals maintain equilibrium when the external pH is different?

A

with energy

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15
Q

What two elements are important to the biological transfer of energy (multicellular level)?

A

carbon and oxygen

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16
Q

How does life obtain energy?

A

moving electrons

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17
Q

What is oxidation?

A

removes electrons, releases energy, breaks bonds

18
Q

What is reduction?

A

Builds bonds, adds electrons, requires energy

19
Q

What are heterotrophs?

A

require organic rich food
- oxidize carbon bonds

20
Q

What are autotrophs?

A

Get energy from inorganic sources (non-carbon)
- reduce carbon, store carbon energy

21
Q

What are photoautotrophs?

A

light energy

22
Q

What are chemoautotrophs?

A

oxidize inorganic compounds
- hydrogen sulfide
- ammonium

23
Q

What methods do prokaryotes (bacteria and archaea) use to acquire energy?

A

all three methods: heterotrophy, photosynthesis, and chemosynthesis
- only ones with all three groups

24
Q

What is an example of a heterotrophic plant?

A

American cancer-root

25
Q

Which groups are the most limited in terms of biochemically obtaining energy?

A

fungi and animals require organic matter (are heterotrophs)

26
Q

What is a mixotroph?

A

obtain energy more than one way (within the same organism)

27
Q

What kind of relationship do photosynthesis and aerobic respiration have?

A

complementary
- they are opposites

28
Q

What does photosynthesis do to carbon?

A

reduces it
- water is oxidized (loses electrons)

29
Q

What does aerobic respiration do to carbon?

A

oxidizes carbohydrate
oxygen is reduced (gains electrons)

30
Q

What do ecologists mean by nutrients?

A

elements other than H, C, and O

31
Q

What is living biomass composed of? how much? (%)

A

C, O, N, P
- 93-97%

32
Q

Which nutrients are required by organisms, and some of their primary functions

A

Sulfur, potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, sodium, silicon

33
Q

What limits growth in ecological systems?

A

nutrients

34
Q

What is tied to growth and biomass generation?

A

the rate at which nutrients are becoming available

35
Q

How does light function?

A

wavelength

36
Q

What is the photosynthetically active region?

A

visible light 400-700 nm (red)
- region of light used for photosynthesis

37
Q

What is ultraviolet (UV) wavelength?

A

less than 400 nm
- shorter ones

38
Q

What is infrared (IR) wavelength?

A

greater than 700
- longer ones

39
Q

What kind of relationship do light and energy have?

A

inversely proportional
- short-wavelength = more energetic light

40
Q

What is the relationship between IR and the greenhouse gas?

A

IR wavelengths (heat) absorbed by GHGs
- doesn’t escape to space

41
Q

How do the seasons come into play? (greenhouse effect)

A

Summer: plants suck CO2
Winter: photosynthesis slows down, increased CO2