Unit 2.1 The Human Body Flashcards
2.1.1 Life Processes:
All living things perform essential functions, What are these?
MRS GREN: Movement Respiration Sensitivity Growth Reproduction Excretion Nutrition
2.1.2 Basic Chemistry
What do chemical changes involve?
Chemical changes involve changing the bonds that hold atoms together, they all involve energy transfers.
What is the activation energy?
The energy required to break chemical bonds, supplied by the collision that occur between molecules as they move randomly.
What can affect the rate of a reactions?
The higher the temperature, the more frequently these collisions occur and the faster the rate of reaction
What is released when new bonds form?
Energy
What is an Endothermic reaction?
More energy is taken in from the environment to break bonds than is released when new bonds are made. e.g photosynthesis.
What is an Exothermic reaction?
More energy is released when new bonds are formed than is taken in to break bonds. Exothermic reactions usually warm their environment eg. respiration.
What is the core temperature of a human?
37 degreesC
Due to the relatively low concentration fo molecules inside cells, most chemical reactions needed inside humans would not happen quickly enough to sustain life, what do we have to help with this?
Biological catalysts called enzymes speed up chemical reactions in living organisms.
What differences can be found within molecules?
Tiny charge differences
What are covalent molecules with dipoles known as?
Polar molecules
What are polar molecules held together by?
Electrostatic forces - they are weaker than ionic bonds but because they form between all the molecules in a substance there are a lot of them and they can have a major effect.
What is the best known example of an electrostatic force?
Hydrogen bonds.
When do hydrogen bonds occur?
When hydrogen atoms are covalently bonded to extremely electronegative atoms such as oxygen, nitrogen or fluorine. e.g when oxygenated hydrogen are covalently bonded to form a hydroxyl group, the oxygen always has a greater share of electrons than the hydrogen so the molecules have some polar nature.
What type of compound often contain hydroxyl groups giving them a polar nature?
Organic compounds.
2.1.3 Basic Biochemistry
What are organic molecules?
Organic molecules are compounds of carbon.
Compounds which are involved in human biochemistry normally contain what?
Mainly carbon, hydrogen and oxygen and are often large complex molecules.
What are inorganic compounds?
They do not contain carbon (there are exception such as carbonate ions or carbon dioxide) and they are usually small (made up of just a few atoms).
What are some important inorganic compounds in the body?
Water, salts including sodium chloride, and cerium acids and soluble bases (called alkalis)
What percentage of your body is water?
Between 50-70%
Water is an excellent solvent, what does this mean?
Many other compounds dissolve in it. Most of the bodies chemical reactions take place in solution in water.
Does water have a high or low heat capacity?
High heat capacity, meaning it takes a lot of energy to warm it up and a long time to cool down.
Water cannot be compressed, therefore what function can it provide in the body?
It acts as a protective cushion for vital body organs, for example water makes up an important part of the cerebrospinal fluid that cushions the brain and the amniotic fluid that protects the foetus in the amniotic sac.
What are salts, acids and bases called which dissolve in water?
Electrolytes