Chemical Element and Biological Compounds Flashcards
Inorganic ion
A molecule or ion that has no more than one Carbon atom
Organic ion
Molecules that have a high proportion of Carbon atoms
Charged molecule
polar
not charged molecule
non polar
7 properties of water
> Ice is less dense than water
> water is a liquid at most temperatures found on earth
> water is colourless transparent
> water has high surface tension
> water has a high specific heat capacity (it can absorb a lot of energy with only a small rise in heat temperature)
> water has a high latent heat of vaporisation
> water has strong cohesive and adhesive properties
significance for life
ice is less dense than water
this forms an insulating layer over the surface of aquatic habitats; ponds and other aquatic habitats do not freeze solid so animals can still move/swim.
* significance for life
water is a liquid at most temperature on earth
It can be used as a transport medium e.g., in blood in mammals, water transports dissolved ions up the xylem in plants.
* significance for life**
water is colourless and transparent
Light can pass through for aquatic plants to photosynthesise; light can pass through the cytoplasm of plant cells so it can reach the chloroplasts
* significance for life**
Water has a high surface tension.
The surface of water can support the mass of many organisms and becomes a habitat for them e.g., pond skaters.
* significance for life**
Water has a high specific heat capacity – it can absorb a lot of energy with only a small rise in temperature.
The temperature of cells and aquatic habitats does not change quickly – conditions thermally remain stable. This is useful inside cells as the temperature of the cytoplasm is stable so enzymes do not denature..
* significance for life**
Water has a high latent heat of vapourisation.
A lot of energy is needed to evaporate water so organisms use water evaporation to cool down (e.g., sweating) and aquatic habitats don’t disappear easily by evaporation. Transpiration in plants also has a cooling effect on leaves.
* significance for life**
Water has strong cohesive and adhesive properties.
Due to hydrogen bonds, water molecules stick together (cohesion) and stick to other non-polar or charged substances (adhesion) – so water molecules can be placed under high tensile (pulling) forces and pulled through plants during transpiration.
What are the 4 main macronutrients
Mg Fe PO Ca
what is the macro-nutrient Mg2+ needed for
Important constituent of chlorophyll so it is essential for photosynthesis
A plant with out mg in their soil cannot make chlorophyll so their leaves will yellow a condition called chlorosis
