Unit 3: The Chemistry Of Life Flashcards
5 other elements needed in living organisms
Sulfur, calcium, phosphorous, iron, and sodium
Most frequently occurring chemical elements in living things
Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen
One role for sulphur
Used in making of amino acids (tertiary structure of proteins with disulphide bridges)
One for role for calcium
Used in structure of bones and teeth. It’s ions are used in synaptic transmission
One role for phosphorous
Part of a DNA molecule. Used in phosphorylation. Used in ADP and ATP.
One role for iron
Used in hemoglobin
One role for sodium
Major part of action potentials
Oxygen is slightly
Negative
Outline the thermal property of water
Water has a high specific heat (it takes a lot of energy to raise one gram of the substance by one degree fare height). This means that it takes a lot higher or lower of a temperature to change the temperature of the water. This allows the water to be a coolant on a hot day. The water will stay cooler that the environment on a hit day. Additionally, it can be warm on a cold day.
Outline the cohesive properties of water
Water, due to the high electronegativity difference in oxygen and hydrogen, allows for the hydrogen bonding to occur. This creates dipole-dipole forces between water molecules and gives water it’s cohesive properties. This is useful in xylem and phloem of plants. For example, it allows water to be lifted up the plant despite gravity and transport nutrients.
Outline the solvent properties of water
Water is a polar molecule due to the high electronegativity difference between hydrogen and oxygen. This allows it to be a solvent for other polar molecules (like dissolves like; polar-polar and nonpolar-nonpolar). In water, ionic compounds dissociate. Because it is a good solvent, it is a good medium for chemical and metabolic reactions.
Explain water’s use in living organisms as a coolant
Due to the thermal properties of water, water is able to be a good coolant. It can maintain a lower temperature I a hit environment because it has a high specific heat (takes a lot of energy to change temperature of water). Sweat is an example of this in nature.
Explain water’s use in living organisms as a medium for metabolic reactions
Because water is a good solvent, it is a good medium for metabolic reactions. Ionic compounds dissociate into ions in it and the particles are able to easily collide. This allows for reactions to occur in the body and in labs.
Explain water’s use in living organisms as a medium for transport medium
Water has cohesive properties due to its hydrogen bonds. This allows for water to love against gravity in plants, it can carry nutrients to all parts of the plants in the phloem and xylem because of this.
Distinguish between organic and inorganic compounds
Organic compounds contain carbon and inorganic do not
Exceptions to organic compounds containing compounds
Carbonates, hydrogen carbonates, and carbon dioxide
Function of glucose in animals
Small molecules that are easily broken down for energy