1. The Chemistry of
Living Things

2. Matter is anything that has mass and takes up space.
Matter is composed of very small particles called atoms. In nature, there are 92 different forms of matter that we call elements.
Atoms by Brainpop

3. The most abundant element in the human body is oxygen.
There are 11 elements of which most living things are composed.
The most abundant element in the human body is oxygen.
The second most abundant element in the human body is carbon, and in third place is hydrogen. Together, these three elements make up 92% of a human being.

4. You are expected to memorize the symbols for the 11 elements that make up most living things:
Oxygen O
Carbon C
Hydrogen H

5. You are expected to memorize the symbols for the 11 elements that make up most living things:
Nitrogen N
Calcium Ca
Phosphorus P

6. You are expected to memorize the symbols for the 11 elements that make up most living things:
Potassium K
Sulfur S
Sodium Na

7. You are expected to memorize the symbols for the 11 elements that make up most living things:
Chlorine Cl
Magnesium Mg
Intro to Elements Clip

8. Atoms combine together to form most of the substances we observe in the world around us.
Compounds are formed when the atoms of two or more elements chemically joined together to form a new substance with very different properties than the elements of which it is formed.

9. Compounds, continued…
The smallest piece of a compound is called a molecule
Salt is an example of a compound. It is composed of an atom of sodium chemically “glued” to an atom of chlorine. Each of these NaCl units is called a molecule.

10. There are many compounds that are important to living things.

11. Compounds & Mixtures Clip
Mixtures are formed when two or more substances are mixed together but not chemically combined.
Each substance retains its own characteristics, and can be separated from each other by simple physical means.
The air in this room is a mixture of nitrogen, oxygen and small amounts of other gases.
Compounds & Mixtures Clip

12. How many molecules of water are there here?
Reading Chemical Formulas:
H2O
The letters tell you what elements make up the molecule…what are the elements in this molecule?
The little numbers to the right of the letters tell you HOW MANY ATOMS of each element. If there isn’t one, it just means that there is one atom of that element.
If there was a number in front of the formula, it would tell you how many MOLECULES of that substance there was:
4H2O
How many molecules of water are there here?

13. Organic and inorganic compounds
There are two types of compounds that are important to living things:
Organic and inorganic compounds
Organic compounds contain the element carbon.
There are 4 types of organic compounds that are important to living things:

14. Releases energy for cells
Organic
Compound
Composed of:
Examples
Function
Carbohydrate
C, H, O
Sugar
Starch
cellulose
Releases energy for cells

15. Stores and releases MORE energy for cells
Organic
Compound
Composed of:
Examples
Function
Lipid
C, H, O
Fats
Oils
Waxes
Stores and releases MORE energy for cells
Cell membranes are made of lipids

16. Used to build cell parts;
Organic
Compound
Composed of:
Examples
Function
Protein
C, H, O, N
enzymes
Used to build cell parts;
Made of smaller parts called amino acids
Where are proteins made in the cell…?

17. Stores hereditary information
Organic
Compound
Composed of:
Examples
Function
Nucleic Acid
C, H,
O, N, P
DNA
RNA
Stores hereditary information

18. Some examples include: water (formula: H2O) salt (formula: NaCl)
Inorganic compounds are also important to living things. They DO NOT contain carbon.
Some examples include:
water (formula: H2O)
salt (formula: NaCl)
Simple Chemistry Clip

19. Let’s Talk about one organic compound that is very important to living things…
Glucose
Glucose is one of the most important molecules in biology. Here are some things you need to know about it:
The chemical formula for
glucose is: C6H12O6
Glucose is manufactured in PLANTS in the process of PHOTOSYNTHESIS
All cells (plants and animals) use glucose for the purpose of GETTING ENERGY

20. Glucose All energy in a glucose molecule is located in THE BONDS.
Let’s Talk about one organic compound that is very important to living things…
Glucose
All energy in a glucose molecule is located in THE BONDS.
When the bonds of this molecule are broken, energy is released. This happens in the MITOCHONDRIA of the cell (the powerhouse organelle).