The Chemistry of Life

Atoms Basic unit of matter. Subatomic particles that make up atoms are protons, neutrons and electrons. Protons: (+) positive electrical charge Neutron: (0) no electrical charge Nucleus: Protons and Neutrons create the nucleus, which is located at the center of the atom. Both (+) and (0) have about the same mass. Electrons: (-) negatively charged particles surrounding the nucleus. Are constantly moving. Atomic Number: number of protons in an atom In an atom, the number of protons are balanced by an equal number of electrons; making the net electrical charge of an atom zero.

Chemical Compounds substance that has 2 or more elements Ex. of element: Hydrogen (H) Ex. of compound: Water (H2O), has 2 Hydrogen's, 1 Oxygen

Chemical Bonds Covalent Bonds: when two atoms share one or more electrons Ionic Bonds: a bond formed by the transfer of electrons from one atom to another; positive and negative charges then attract each other. Atom that looses an electron (-) becomes more positive (+) Atom that gains an electron (-) becomes more negative (-) Molecule: atoms joined together, such as H20

Chemical Reactions/ Energy Changes one set of chemicals into another Reactants: The elements or compounds that enter the reaction Products: What is made by the chemical reaction Example: 2H2 + O2  2H2O (water vapor) Left side= reactants, Right side= product

Solutions and Mixtures Mixture: Two or more elements or compounds mixed together physically, such as salt and pepper. You can still remove the individual grains of each. Solution: All parts are evenly dispersed in a fluid. Ex. salt water. Salt= Solute ( what is dissolved) Water= Solvent (what dissolves the solute)

Activation Energy Catalysts The amount of energy needed for all chemical reactions to occur. Speed up the rate of a chemical reaction by lowering activation energy

Acid vs. Base pH Scale: ranges from 0 to 14; used to see if something in acidic (0-7) or basic (7-14) Acids: Have higher concentration of H+ ions than pure water (sour taste) Example: lemons, vinegar, milk Neutral: 7; water Base or Alkaline: Have lower concentration of H+ ions than pure water (bitter taste/feel slippery) Example: soap, bleach, blood PH Scale Oven cleaner Bleach Ammonia solution Soap Sea water Human blood Pure water Milk Normal rainfall Acid rain Tomato juice Lemon juice Stomach acid Neutral Increasingly Basic Increasingly Acidic

Water-H2O It has polarity= charges are uneven (H+), molecule like a magnet with poles. Hydrogen Bonds- Are not as strong as Ionic or Covalent Bonds and combined with polarity, they are responsible for the following properties of water: Cohesion: Attraction between molecules of the same substance (H2O is very cohesive- sticks together.) Water droplets Adhesion: Molecules of one substance are attracted to molecules of other substances. Why water goes up a straw when you stick the straw into a glass of water

Compounds that are made with carbon Organic Compounds Compounds that are made with carbon Carbon (C) bonds with many elements, living organisms are made up of molecules that contain Carbon and other elements (like Hydrogen, Oxygen) Macromolecule= Large molecule, made up of small parts (monomers) that join together to make a polymer. 4 types of organic compounds = Carbohydrates, Lipids, Nucleic Acids, and Proteins.

proteins that act as catalysts Enzymes proteins that act as catalysts Speed up chemical reactions in cells Enzymes are very specific Enzyme-Substrate Complex: Enzymes have a site where the reactant or substrate binds to a specific site, and the reaction can occur Enzymes are affected by: changes in pH and changes in temperature (too hot or cold)

Reaction pathway without enzyme Activation energy Activation energy with enzyme Reactants Products

Made up of Carbon, Hydrogen and Oxygen Carbohydrates Made up of Carbon, Hydrogen and Oxygen Living things use carbohydrates as their main energy source. Plants and some animals also use them for structural purposes. Examples: Sugar- simple carbohydrate, immediate energy supply Starch- complex carbohydrate, how we store carbohydrate energy Monomers of starch is sugar! Monosaccharide= single sugar molecule (glucose) Polysaccharide= Different monosaccharides joined together (Cellulose)

Starch Glucose

Lipids Lipids are fats, not soluble in water made of Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen and Phosphorus Used to store energy and make up parts of membranes (like cell membrane) and waterproof coverings (part of skin) Saturated fats= have maximum # of hydrogen, solid at room temperature (butter) Unsaturated fats = doesn’t have max. # of hydrogen, are liquid at room temp (like olive oil)

Nucleic Acids Macromolecule containing Hydrogen, oxygen, Nitrogen, Carbon, and Phosphorus Made up of monomers called Nucleotides Nucleotide= 5 carbon sugar, phosphate group, Nitrogen base. Nucleic Acids store and transmit genetic information in the form of RNA (ribonucleic acid) and DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)

Proteins Macromolecule containing Nitrogen, Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen and Sulfur Proteins are polymers made up of amino acid monomers 20 amino acids in nature Directions for making amino acids into different proteins found in DNA. Each protein has a specific function and are folded into complex structures Proteins control rate of chemical reactions, regulate cell processes, form bones and muscles, and transport substances into and out of cells, or help fight disease.

Amino acids

Use this to help you study Carbon Compounds include that consist of which contain Carbohydrates Lipids Nucleic acids Proteins Sugars and starches Fats and oils Nucleotides Amino Acids Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen Carbon,hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorus hydrogen,oxygen, nitrogen,