Inorganic Compounds And Solutions Flashcards
Most chemicals in the body exist as __________
Compounds
The main classes of compounds in the body are:
inorganic and organic
Describe the characteristics of inorganic compounds
structurally simple, only have a few atoms, can’t perform complex biological functions, lack carbon
What are the inorganic compounds that DO contain carbon
carbon dioxide and bicarbonate
What type of bonds do inorganic compounds have?
May have wither ionic or covalent bonds
What are the inorganic compounds in the body?
water, acids, bases, salts
How much of the body’s mass does water make up?
55%-60%
What is the most important and abundant inorganic compound in all living systems on Earth?
water
What medium do nearly all body’s chemical reactions occur?
water
What is water’s most important property?
the polarity of the covalent bonds in a water molecule
What is water a good solvent for?
other ionic or polar substance
What fluids in the body is water a major part of?
mucus, serous fluid, synovial fluid, body secretion
What are hydrophilic compounds?
solutes that contain polar covalent bonds, dissolve easily in water
What are hydrophobic compounds?
solutes that contain non-polar covalent bonds are not very water-soluble
What does water enable dissolved reactants to do?
collide to form products
Is water typically a reactant or product in a chemical reaction?
can be a reactant or a product in a chemical reaction
How does water help eliminate waste products in the body?
dissolves waste products to be eliminated in urine
What hydrolysis?
water added to large nutrient molecules to break them down into smaller molecules
What is dehydration synthesis?
two smaller molecules join to form a larger one, water is removed
True or false: water does not have a high heat capacity
false: water does have a high heat capacity
How does absorbing or releasing heat affect the temperature of the water?
can absorb or release a large amount of hear with a modest change to its own temperature
What does water do with the heat energy it absorbs?
used to break its abundant hydrogen bonds first, leaving less energy to increase the temperature of the water
True or false: water does not require a large amount of heat to vaporize
false: water does require a large amount of heat to vaporize
How does sweat cool down the body?
sweat evaporates off skin removing heat
What is a mixture?
combination of elements or compounds that are physically blended together but not bound by chemical bonds
Give an example of a mixture
air is a mixture of gases
What is a solution?
A solvent dissolves another substance called a
solute.
Is there usually more solvent or solute?
• Usually, there is more solvent than solute.
How are solutes dispersed in a solution?
Solutes remain evenly dispersed among the
solvent molecules in a solution
Do solutes settle out in a solution?
Solutes do not settle out and accumulate in the
bottom.
How do colloids differ from solutions?
Differ from solutions mainly on the basis of
the greater molecular size of the solute
Solutes do not settle out either in a colloid
Do solutes settle out in colloid?
Solutes do not settle out either in a colloid
How is milk a colloid and a solution?
- Large proteins make a colloid
* The calcium, lactose and ions in it make a solution
What is suspension? Give an example of a suspension
The suspended material is mixed with the
suspending medium for some time.
But eventually, it will settle out.
Blood is an example of a suspension
Do solutes settle out in suspension?
Yes
When measuring a concentration of a solution what is the percentage referring to?
Measures the mass of a solute per 100mL of a solution
To make a 15% concentrated solution what do you do?
On 15 g of a solute, add enough solvent until completing 100mL of solution
What is molarity?
Measures Moles of solute per liter (mol/L) of
solution
What equals one mole?
The amount (in grams) of any substance that has
a mass equal to the combined atomic masses of
all its atoms.
What is the Avogadro’s number?
One mole of any substance contains the same
number of particles:
6.023 X 1023 units/mole
What is dissociation?
When inorganic salts, acids, or bases
dissolve in water, they separate into ions
and become surrounded by water
What are electrolytes?
The hydrated ions from dissociation are
called electrolytes
What are the main electrolytes in the body?
Sodium, calcium, potassium, chloride, phosphate, and magnesium are all electrolytes.
What is an acid?
A substance that dissociates into:
- One or more hydrogen ions H+
- One or more anions
What is a base?
A substance that dissociates into:
- One or more hydroxide ions OH-
- One or more cations
What is a salt?
A substance that dissociates into:
- Cations and Anions
- Neither of which is H+ or OH-
What forms salts?
Acids and bases react with one another to
form salts
To ensure homeostasis intracellular and extracellular fluids must contain what?
To ensure homeostasis, intracellular and extracellular fluids must contain almost balanced quantities of acids and bases
What small change can affect chemical reactions?
Any departure from the narrow limits of
normal H+ or OH- concentrations greatly
disrupts body functions.
What is the pH scale?
A solution’s acidity or alkalinity is expressed on the
pH scale from 0 to 14
What point on the pH scale expresses where the concentration of H+ and OH- are equal?
The midpoint of the scale is 7, where the
concentration of H+ and OH- are equal.
What pH is distilled water?
This is only the case of distilled water and this is
considered to be neutral. #7 on the pH scale
What is an acidic solution?
A solution that has more H+ than OH- is an acidic solution and has a pH below 7.
What is a basic (alkaline) solution?
A solution that has more OH- than H+ is a basic (alkaline) solution and has a pH above 7.
What happens to the pH of fluids inside and outside calls when strong acids and bases are taken into/formed by the body?
The pH of fluids inside and outside the cells remains almost constant, even though strong
acids and bases are continuously taken into and
formed by the body
What is the pH of blood?
pH of the blood between
7.35 and 7.45
What are buffer systems?
Their function is to convert strong acids or
bases into weak acids or bases.
How do strong acids and bases change the pH of a solution?
Ionize easily and contribute many H+ (or OH-) to the
solution changing drastically the pH
Do weak acids and bases have the same effect on a solution as strong acids and bases?
Weak acids (or bases) do not ionize as much and contribute fewer H+ (or OH-) having less effect on the pH
Under most circumstances, the body runs on a surplus of H+ or OH-?
H+
The removal of excessive H+ depends on what?
The removal of the excessive H+ in the body
depends on three major mechanisms:
1. Buffer systems
• Temporary
- Exhalation of CO2
• Increasing the rate and depth of breathing - Kidney excretion of H+
• The slowest but most effective and
permanent
What is the carbonic acid-bicarbonate buffer system?
• Carbonic acid (H2CO3) can act as a weak acid and bicarbonate ion (HCO3-) can act as a weak base. • This buffer system compensates for either an excess or shortage of H+
What is the most abundant buffer system in the body?
Proteins Buffer System:
• The most abundant buffer system in the body
• Hemoglobin in the RBCs is the most important
What buffer system is important in intracellular fluid and urine?
Phosphates Buffer System:
• Important in the intracellular fluid and urine
How does the body eliminate excess H+ permanently?
Permanent elimination from the body by the kidney
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