1. Basic Chemistry and the Chemical Components of Life
BIOCHEMISTRY
Basic Chemistry and the Chemical Components of Life

2. The Chemistry of Life
MATTER – anything that has mass and takes up space. All matter consists of atoms.
ATOM – the smallest part of an element.
ELEMENT – the basic form of matter. Has only ONE type of atom.
*Carbon is made up of
many carbon atoms.
*Aluminum is made up of
many aluminum atoms.

3. What are atoms made of?
Atoms are made of three kinds of particles.

4. Atomic Structure Particle Location Charge Mass Proton Nucleus Positive
1 a.m.u.
Neutron
Neutral
Electron
Outside Nucleus
Negative

5. Elements
Organized in the periodic table of elements, according to their atomic numbers.

6. Atomic Number
An elements atomic number is EQUAL to the number of protons that element has.
All atoms are neutral (they have no charge)…therefore they have an EQUAL number of protons (+) and electrons (-).

7. Name Symbol Atomic # Mass # Protons Neutrons Electrons Calcium Ca 2041 21
Nitrogen N 7 15 8
Hydrogen H 1
Oxygen O 16
Lithium Li 3 4 7

8. pH SCALE measures degree of substance alkalinity or acidity
Ranges from 0 to 14
0 – 5 strong acid
6-7 neutral
8-14 strong base

9. ACIDS & BASES
Acids: always (almost) begin with "H" because of the excess of H+ ions (hydrogen)
Ex: lemon juice (6), stomach acid (1.5), acid rain (4.5), normal rain (6)
Facts about Acids
Acids turn litmus paper RED and usually taste SOUR.
You eat acids daily (coffee, vinegar, soda, spicy foods, etc…)

10. ACIDS & BASES
Bases: always (almost) end with -OH because of the excess of hydroxide ions (Oxygen & Hydrogen)
EX: oven cleaner, bleach, ammonia, sea water, blood, pure water
Facts about Bases
Bases turn litmus BLUE.
Bases usually feel SLIPPERY to touch and taste BITTER.

11. The goal of the body is to maintain HOMEOSTASIS (neutrality) – to do this when pH is concerned, we add weak acids & bases to prevent sharp changes in pH.
These are called BUFFERS

12. Neutralization Reactions
When an acid reacts with a base to produce a salt and water.

13. FORMULA
The chemical symbols and numbers that compose a compound ("recipe")
Structural Formula – Line drawings of the compound that shows the elements in proportion and how they are bonded
Molecular Formula – the ACTUAL formula for a compound
C2H6O

14. What are living things made of?
The most common elements found in living things are:
Carbon (C) Hydrogen (H) Oxygen (O) Nitrogen (N)
Other elements found in living things include:
Sodium (Na) Iron (Fe)
Chlorine (Cl) Calcium (Ca)
Phosphorous (P)

15. What happens when atoms combine?
When atoms join together, they form molecules.
If molecules have two or more different kinds of atoms, they are then called compounds.
ex. Water – H2O glucose – C6H12O6
Mixture – 2 or more molecules that are NOT chemically combined.
ex. Salt & water

16. Bonds Bonds are forces that hold atoms together.
There are two main types of bonds:
Ionic Bonds – One atom transfers electrons to another atom.

18. Covalent Bonds – Atoms share electrons.

19. SHARING IS CARING!

20. And now for the Biochemistry portion of things….

21. Inorganic vs. Organic
Inorganic Molecules – molecules that do not contain both hydrogen and carbon together.
Ex. Water (H2O), Salts (NaCl), Acids and Bases

22. ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
LIPIDS
PROTEINS
NUCLEIC ACIDS
CARBOHYDRATES

23. Organic Molecules
Organic Molecules - contain BOTH carbon and hydrogen atoms together in some ratio.
There are 4 classes of organic molecules found in living things:
1. Carbohydrates
2. Lipids
3. Proteins
4. Nucleic Acids

24. Carbohydrates Sugars and complex carbohydrates (starches)
Contain the elements carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen
Monosaccharides (simple sugars)
mono = one
saccharide = sugar

25. Disaccharides Di = two Saccharide = sugar (double sugars)
All have the formula C12H22O11
Sucrose (table sugar) is an example

26. Polysaccharides Poly = many saccharide = sugar (many sugars)
Made of three or more simple sugar units.
Examples:
Glycogen –animal starch
Cellulose –forms plant
cell walls
Starches – used as energy storage

27. Large organic food molecules such as proteins and starches must initially be broken down through the process of digestion in order to enter cells.
Organic Molecule
Digestive End Products
Carbohydrates
Simple sugars (glucose)
Proteins
Amino acids
Lipids (fats)
Fatty acids and glycerol

28. How are complex molecules formed?
Dehydration Synthesis – combining simpler molecules to form a more complex one with the removal of water
monosaccharide + monosaccharide  disaccharide + water
C6H12O6 + C6H12O6  C12H22O11 + H2O
Polysaccharides are formed from repeated dehydration synthesis of monosaccharides

29. How are complex molecules broken down?
Hydrolysis – the addition of water to a compound to split it into smaller subunits
Also called chemical digestion
Disaccharide + H2O  monosaccharide + monosaccharide

30. LIPIDS Lipids (fats): fats, oils, waxes, steroids
Lipids chief function in energy storage, protection and insulation of different structures
Lipids are large molecules made of fatty acids and glycerol.

31. Fatty acids + glycerol  Lipid
Fats – usually found in animals
Oils and waxes – usually found in plants
Oils are liquid at room temperature, waxes are solid
Lipids along with proteins are key components of cell membranes

32. PROTEINS Contain the elements carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and Nitrogen
Composed of amino acid subunits
The order the amino acids are put together determines the shape and function of the protein.

33. Major Protein Functions
Growth and repair
Energy
Buffer – helps keep body pH constant (homeostasis)
Enzymes – necessary for chemical reactions
Proteins will also go through dehydration synthesis and hydrolysis