Semester Plan Chemistry of life Curacao Cells Energetics Curacao group meeting date: January 25th 9 am – 12 pm

How do elements combine to sustain life How do elements combine to sustain life? What makes us similar to one another? Should GMOs be allowed on the market?

What elements are we made up of?

3.1 Chemical elements Most frequently occurring elements: CHON

3.2 What other elements are needed? Sulfur essential in variable group of two amino acids: cysteine, methionine (therefore proteins) Calcium second messenger in cell signaling; essential in animal bones, teeth, shells, nerve function

3.2 What other elements are needed? Phosphorus essential in phospholipids, and in nucleotides: DNA, RNA, ATP Iron essential in heme group of globin proteins, oxygen binding molecule

3.2 What other elements are needed? Sodium essential in animal neuron membrane potential, required for nerve impulse transmission

We need water Lubricate lungs to exhale Kidneys remove wastes Lubricate joints (including spinal joint) and allows smooth movement High specific heat (energy required to change water temperature)  regulate body temperature High heat of vaporization (energy required to boil water). Sweating allows for cooling.

3.1.5 Why do pennies float? Cohesion hydrogen bonds between polar water molecules cause them to cohere allowing for transpiration in plants moving water against gravity allowing for animals such as water striders to walk over the surface of ponds even though they are denser than water

3.1.5 What other properties does water have? thermal properties hydrogen bonds between polar water molecules cause water to resist change high specific heat (energy required to change water temperature) high heat of vaporization (energy required to boil water) high heat of fusion (loss of energy required to freeze water) thus, water produces a stable environment for aquatic organisms

3.1.5 What other properties does water have? solvent properties the polarity of water attracts, or dissolves, any other polar or charged particles by forming hydrogen bonds with them proteins, glucose, or ions, such as sodium or calcium are all soluble