1.3 - Common Substances Essential to Living Things

Question 1

What are the two groups that all chemicals can be grouped into? Define them.

Answer 1

Inorganic substances:

• Generally do not contain the element carbon
• Exceptions: Carbon dioxide (CO2), Carbon monoxide (CO)
  
  • Ex. Baking soda, mineral quartz

Organic Compounds:

• Contain the element carbon, bonded together to make long chains of molecules
• Have 3 major elements: carbon, oxygen and hydrogen, in their molecular structure
  
  • Ex. glucose sugar, protein, and fat

Question 2

True or false:

There are equal amounts of organic and inorganic substances

Answer 2

False. There are more organic substances than inorganic substances

Question 3

True or false:

Only some living things are made up of organic and inorganic substances and need them to survive

Answer 3

All living things are made up of organic and/or inorganic substances and depend on them for survival

Question 4

Define substrate

Answer 4

Substrate:

• The material that living things live on
• Living things obtain many nutrients from their substrate

Question 5

What 2 categories are nutrients classified as?

Answer 5

Macronutrients - Elements required in fairly large amounts
Micronutrients - Elements that are required by living things in trace or extremely small amounts
- Ex. Selenium

Question 6

Why are micro/macronutrients so important?

Answer 6

Macronutrients and micronutrients are essential for plant and animal growth and survival. They are the building blocks of body structure and the source of energy

Question 7

What are the four classes of organic compounds that are essential for healthy body makeup?

Answer 7

THere are four classes of organic compounds essential to healthy body makeup. They are:

• Carbohydrates
• Fats (lipids)
• Proteins
• Nucleic Acid

Question 8

What is the classification of most chemicals in humans?

Answer 8

Organic compounds.

Question 9

Describe carbohydrates as organic molecules

Answer 9

Carbohydrates

• Made up of C, H and O
• Complex carbohydrates are made of many glucose molecules
• Can be found in foods such as pasta, rice, potatoes, fruits and bread
• Provide energy

Question 10

Describe lipids as organic molecules

Answer 10

Lipids

• Also made up of C, H and O
• Our bodies store food in the form of fat
• Fats, walnuts, oils and waxes contain lipids

Question 11

Describe proteins and amino acids as organic molecules

Answer 11

Proteins and Amino Acids

• Used for growth and repair
• Made up of C, H, O and N
• Used as a form of energy
• Are made from amino acid units joined together
• Green plants convert glucose into amino acids

Question 12

Describe nucleic acids as organic molecules

Answer 12

Nucleic Acids

• The largest most complicated molecules found in living things
• Two important nucleic acids are DNA and RNA
• Heredity and controlling a cell’s activities