1. CHAPTER 4: The Chemical Basis of Life
4-2: Chemical Compounds in Living Things

2. 4-2: Chemical Compounds in Living Things
Only 4 elements are common in living things.
96.3% of our weight is due to Carbon,
Nitrogen, Oxygen and Hydrogen.

3. 4-2: Chemical Compounds in Living Things
Element
Phase at Room Temperature
# of electrons in the outer shell
# of bonds it will form
Carbon
Solid 4
Nitrogen
Gas 5 3
Oxygen 6 2
Hydrogen 1

4. 4-2: Chemical Compounds in Living Things
inorganic compounds are molecules which do not contain carbon
Exceptions:
CO2 (Carbon Dioxide)
CO (Carbon Monoxide)
CaCO3 (calcium carbonate)

5. 4-2: Chemical Compounds in Living Things
Inorganic compounds are found in bones, blood and buffers (salts)
organic compound are molecules which contain Carbon except CO2, CO & CaCO3 (these are inorganic).

6. 4-2: Chemical Compounds in Living Things
Carbon will form 4 bonds.
Carbon will form bonds with other carbons to form long Carbon chains.

7. 4-2: Chemical Compounds in Living Things
From figure 4-9, list all the molecules that have
a) double bonds – butadiene & benzene
b) triple bonds – acetylene
c) a ring structure - benzene

8. 4-2: Chemical Compounds in Living Things
Polymers are large compounds made up of many smaller compounds (known as monomers) which are bound together in a process known as polymerizaztion.

9. 4-2: Chemical Compounds in Living Things
Polymerization allows for a wide variety of complex molecules.