1. The Chemistry of Life Willard

2. Atoms The basic unit of matter Greek, atomos meaning “unable to cut”
Named after Democritus...there has to be a limit =atom.

3. Atoms What does an atom consist of?
Subatomic particles: protons (+), neutrons, and electrons (-).
What is the center of an atom called?
Nucleus
Where do we find electrons?
Constant motion surrounding the nucleus.

4. SUBATOMIC PARTICLES
Why are atoms neutral despite having charged particles?
Atoms have equal numbers of electrons and protons/have equal, but opposite charges.
(they balance out)

5. Elements, Compounds, or Molecules
What is a chemical element?
A chemical element is a pure substance that consists entirely of one type of atom (C, Na, H, N, O, etc.)
What is a molecule?
A molecule is formed when two or more atoms join together chemically. Molecular hydrogen (H2), molecular oxygen (O2) and molecular nitrogen (N2) are not compounds because each is composed of a single element.
What is compound?
A compound is a molecule that contains at least two different elements. All compounds are molecules but not all molecules are compounds.

6. Atoms. Elements. Compounds. Molecules.
* An imperfect analogy….
Ice cream store, 30 flavors -> element.
Smallest amount served = scoop-> atom.
2 scoops same flavor-> molecule.
More than 1 flavor ->compound.

7. Isotopes of Carbon *Isomers...
Nonradioactive carbon-12
Nonradioactive carbon-13
Radioactive carbon-14
6 electrons
6 protons
6 neutrons
8 neutrons
7 neutrons
Because they have the same number of electrons, all isotopes of an element have the same chemical properties.

8. Chemical Bonds What are the main types of chemical bonds?
Ionic & Covalent
Ionic- electrons transfer from one atom to the other.
Sodium atom (Na)
Chlorine atom (Cl)
Sodium ion (Na+)
Chloride ion (Cl-)
Transfer
of electron
Protons +11
Electrons -11
Charge
Protons +17
Electrons -17
Electrons -10
Charge
Electrons -18
Charge

9. Chemical bonds
Covalent Bonds- electrons are shared b/w atoms = molecule.
What molecule is this?

10. Properties of Water
Water is polar: there is an uneven distribution of electrons b/w the oxygen and hydrogen atoms.
Why is this important?
Water can react to form
ions:
H20 -> H+ + OH-
Hydrogen ion Hydroxide ion

11. Acids, Bases, and pH pH: ranges 0 to 14
Acids: contain higher [ ] of H+ ions than pure water and have a pH below 7.
Bases: contain lower [ ] of H+ ions than pure water and have pH values above 7.

12. Buffers
Weak acids or bases that can react w/ strong acids or bases to prevent changes in pH.
Why is this important?

13. Chemical Reactions & Enzymes
Why are chemical reactions important?
Chemical reaction: a process that changes into another set of chemicals.
CO2 + H2O H2CO3 (Carbonic Acid)
H2CO CO2 + H2O
What are reactants? What are products?
Chemical reactions always involve the breaking of bonds in reactants and the formation of new bonds in products.

14. Energy in Reactions
To stay alive organisms need to carry out chemical reactions.
Growing, breathing, think, etc.
Activation energy: the energy needed to get a RxN started.
Can you tell which is an energy absorbing reaction/energy releasing reaction?

15. Enzymes Some chemical reactions are too slow...
Catalyst: substance that speeds up the rate of a chemical reaction; lowers activation energy
Enzymes (“ase”) are biological catalyst; speed up chemical reactions that take place in the cell.
Lipase
Carbonic anhydrase
Amylase

16. Enzymes

17. Enzyme Action Enzyme-Substrate Complex How do they work?
The reactants of enzyme- catalyzed reactions are known as substrates.
Not random; active site and substrate fit like “lock and key”
What happens after?
What factors affect enzyme function?

18. Biomolecules!

19. Biomolecules

20. All living things need energy and nutrients
All living things need energy and nutrients. Most organisms get their energy and nutrients from their FOOD in the form of biomolecules.
Proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates and lipids
are the 4 main classes of biomolecules.

21. Nucleic acids Proteins Carbohydrates
3 of the 4 classes of biomolecules are classified as polymers. These are long molecules are made of very similar, repeating monomers.
Nucleic acids
Proteins
Carbohydrates

22. Understanding the Vocabulary
Photo by Toni Lozano
When we say “polymer” we are referring to the whole molecule. What would you call the entire object above?
It is a chain. I would say that chains are like polymers.

23. It is a link. I would say that links are like monomers.
Polymer: chain
Monomer: link
Photo by Toni Lozano
When we say “monomer” we are referring to the individual piece that keeps repeating. What would you call the individual pieces of a chain?
It is a link. I would say that links are like monomers.

24. The entire chain is the polymer, and each monkey is a monomer.
In this picture, what would you say is the polymer, and what would be the monomers?
The entire chain is the polymer, and each monkey is a monomer. 24

25. Important Vocabulary:
1. All of the biomolecules can be broken apart or digested to obtain their building blocks and the energy inside of them.
2. Biomolecules can also be built or synthesized by the cells to complete certain tasks and store energy for later use. 25

26. Synthesizing & Digesting:
Two basic reactions:
1) Dehydration synthesis
Dehydration – water lost
Synthesis - build
= removing a water molecule to build a polymer!!

27. Synthesizing & Digesting:
2) Hydrolysis
Hydro – water
Lysis – break apart
= Using water to break apart polymers!
DIGESTION!!!!!!!!

28. With a partner, define a monomer and a polymer…
What is another everyday example you can think of that have monomers and polymers?

29. Carbohydrates are made of sugars
This is a
simple sugar
This large molecule is a complex carbohydrate.

30. Carbohydrates are also known as saccharides.
monosaccharide
disaccharide
polysaccharide 30

31. Carbohydrates provide ENERGY!
Sugars are produced by plants during photosynthesis, and they are the primary source of energy for most organisms.
Carbohydrates provide ENERGY! 31

32. Carbohydrates are also used in the cell walls of plants and other organisms. When sugars are placed together into complex carbohydrates like cellulose they become very strong and rigid.
cell wall
Cellulose 32

33. Lipids
Types of Lipids
Lipids are the group of biomolecules that contains fats, cholesterols, and phospholipids.
Diagrams by Eoin Fahy

34. Fats are a primary example of lipids.
Fats are made of a glycerol molecule attached to three fatty acids. 34

35. Lipids can also be used to store large amounts of energy.
Gram for gram, lipids contain
MORE ENERGY than carbohydrates. This is why your body stores its extra energy in the form of fat. 35

36. Lipids
Lipids are also the primary component of all of the cell’s membranes. Membranes are made out of phospholipid molecules.
Phospholipid 36

37. With a partner, discuss the following question:
What are two ways that carbs and lipids are alike?

38. Nucleic acids are made of nucleotides
This is a nucleotide
This large molecule is a nucleic acid.

39. Every nucleotide has 3 basic parts:
1. The phosphate group
2. A sugar named deoxyribose
3. One of the 4 nitrogen bases

40. The primary function of nucleic acids is to store genetic information used to make proteins.
DNA & RNA are the two main types of nucleic acids. The NA in DNA and RNA stands for Nucleic Acid!
RNA 40

41. 1 glucose is placed in to 36 ATP molecules.
Nucleotides are also used to distribute energy more efficiently. The energy from
1 glucose is placed in to 36 ATP molecules.
36 ATP
1 Glucose
The ATP molecules can deliver smaller amounts of energy so that energy is not wasted!

42. ATP stands for Adenosine Triphosphate,
ATP is a nucleotide. Instead of 1 phosphate group, there are 3 phosphate groups. The bonds between these extra phosphate groups is where the energy is stored.
ATP stands for Adenosine Triphosphate,
but you can remember that it gives cells
All The Power! 42

43. This large molecule is a protein.
Proteins are made of
amino acids
This is an amino acid
This large molecule is a protein.

44. Proteins are also known as polypeptides.
This is because the bond that holds amino acids together in a protein is called a peptide bond.
Peptide Bonds

45. Proteins
Proteins are the most diverse groups of biomolecule, and they perform the largest variety of functions in the cells.
IMPORTANT:
The order of the amino acids determines the shape of protein
Shape determines FUNCTION!

46. Proteins can be used to transport molecules through membranes, attack invading germs, carry oxygen through the blood and send signals through the body!
Image by Gareth White
Hemoglobin
Insulin
(Hormone)
Enzymes
Immunoglobin
(Antibodies) 46

47. Structure of Proteins
Primary Structure is just the specific order of amino acids in the chain.
Secondary Structures are either a helix or a pleated sheet formed form hydrogen bonds reacting between the amino acids.

48. Structure of Proteins
Tertiary Structure occurs because of attractions between the alpha helices and pleated sheets.
Quaternary Structure
is a protein consisting of more than one amino acid chain.

49. With a partner, discuss the following question:
How are carbohydrates and nucleic acids related?

50. Enzyme digesting a molecule
Possibly the most important type of proteins are called enzymes. Enzymes are found in every cell, and they speed up chemical reactions inside the cell.
Enzymes
Enzyme digesting a molecule

51. Enzymes
1. Enzymes can break apart or digest large molecules into smaller pieces.
2. Enzymes can also synthesize large molecules by putting small pieces together.

52. Important Fact
Proteins
All four classes of biomolecules are considered organic compounds. This is because they are all based on the element carbon.
Carbohydrates
Lipids
Nucleic Acids

53. With a partner, discuss the following question:
How do we obtain carbon from the carbon cycle?