1. The Chemistry of Life

2. Why are we studying chemistry?
Chemistry is the foundation of Biology

3. The World of Elements H C N O Na Mg P S K Ca
About 25 elements are essential for life
Four elements make up 96% of living matter:
• carbon (C) • hydrogen (H)
• oxygen (O) • nitrogen (N)
Six elements make up most of remaining 4%:
• phosphorus (P) • calcium (Ca)
• sulfur (S) • potassium (K)
• magnesium (Mg) • sodium (Na)

4. Elements & their valence shells
Elements in the same column have the same valence & similar chemical properties
ELECTRONEGATIVITY
Oxygen has medium electronegativity so doesn’t pull electrons all the way off hydrogen whereas chlorine would.
So oxygen forms a polar covalent bond.
Carbon has only a weak electronegativity so forms a nonpolar covalent bond

5. This tendency drives chemical reactions…
Chemical reactivity
Atoms tend to
complete a partially filled valence shell or
empty a partially filled valence shell
This tendency drives chemical reactions…
and creates bonds
Ionic or Covalent bonds – –

6. Bonds in Biology Weak bonds Strong bonds Hydrogen bond hydrogen bonds
H2O
Weak bonds
hydrogen bonds
attraction between + and –
hydrophobic & hydrophilic interactions
interactions with H2O
ionic
Strong bonds
covalent bonds
sharing electrons
H2O
Covalent bond –
H2 (hydrogen gas)

7. Nonpolar covalent bond
Pair of electrons shared equally by 2 atoms
example: hydrocarbons = CxHx
methane (CH4 )
Lots of energy stored… & released
Pair of electrons shared equally by 2 atoms
strong stable bond
example: hydrocarbons = CxHx
methane (CH4 )
balanced, stable, good building block

8. Polar covalent bonds Pair of electrons shared unequally by 2 atoms
example: water = H2O
oxygen has stronger “attraction” for the electrons than hydrogen
oxygen has higher electronegativity
water is a polar molecule
+ vs – poles
leads to many interesting properties of water… H
Oxygen + – –
Pair of electrons shared unequally by 2 atoms
strong but interactive bond
example: bonds within water = H2O
oxygen has stronger “attraction” for the electrons than hydrogen
oxygen has higher electronegativity
water is a polar molecule
+ vs – poles
leads to many interesting properties of water… – – +

9. Hydrogen bonding Polar water creates molecular attractions Weak bond
attraction between positive H in one H2O molecule to negative O in another H2O
also can occur wherever an -OH exists in a larger molecule
Weak bond
but common in biology
H bonds H O
APBio/TOPICS/Biochemistry/MoviesAP/03_02WaterStructure_A.swf
attraction between H+ in one molecule to O- in another molecule
weak bond
example: bonds between water molecules
leads to many interesting properties of water

10. Water Molecule and Polarity Video

11. Chemistry of Life
Properties of Water

12. Why are we studying water?
More about Water
Why are we studying water?
All life occurs in water
inside & outside the cell

13. Chemistry of water H2O molecules form H-bonds with each other
+H attracted to –O
creates a sticky molecule
APBio/TOPICS/Biochemistry/Movies AP/hydrogenbonds-Thinkwell.swf

14. Liquid of Life Special properties of water 1. cohesion & adhesion
surface tension, capillary action
2. good solvent
many molecules dissolve in H2O
hydrophilic vs. hydrophobic
3. lower density as a solid
ice floats!
4. high specific heat
water stores heat
5. high heat of vaporization
heats & cools slowly
Ice! I could use more ice!

15. Try that with flour… or sugar…
1. Cohesion & Adhesion
Cohesion
H bonding between H2O molecules
water is “sticky”
surface tension
(water pushed together to form
a layer)
Water beading up or
raindrops
Adhesion
H bonding between H2O & other substances
capillary action
water climbs up paper towel, straw or cloth
Try that with flour… or sugar…
Cohesion
H bonding between H2O molecules
water is “sticky”
surface tension
capillary action
drinking straw
Adhesion
H bonding between H2O & other substances
meniscus
water climbs up paper towel or cloth

16. 2. Water is the solvent of life
Polarity makes H2O a good solvent
polar H2O molecules surround + & – ions
solvents dissolve solutes creating solutions
2. Water is a good solvent = the solvent of life
Polarity makes H2O a good solvent
polar H2O molecules surround + & – ions
solvents dissolve solutes creating solutions
What dissolves in water easily?
polar or non-polar molecules?
How about oxygen -- does that dissolve in H2O?

17. What dissolves in water?
Hydrophilic
substances have attraction to H2O
polar or non-polar?
Hydrophilic
substances have attraction to H2O

18. What doesn’t dissolve in water?
Hydrophobic
substances that don’t have an attraction to H2O
polar or non-polar?
Oh, look hydrocarbons!
Hydrophobic
substances that don’t have an attraction to H2O
fat (triglycerol)

19. And this has made all the difference!
3. The special case of ice
Most (all?) substances are more dense when they are solid, but
not water…
Ice floats!
H bonds form a crystal
Ice! I could use more ice!
Most (all?) substances are more dense when they are solid, but not water…
Lower density as a solid = Ice floats!
H bonds form a crystal
And this has made all the difference!

20. Why is “ice floats” important?
Oceans & lakes don’t freeze solid
surface ice insulates water below
allowing life to survive the winter
if ice sank…
ponds, lakes & even oceans would freeze solid
in summer, only upper few inches would thaw
Oceans & lakes don’t freeze solid
surface ice insulates water below
allowing life to survive the winter
if ice sank…
ponds, lakes & even oceans would freeze solid
in summer, only upper few inches would thaw
seasonal turnover of lakes
sinking cold H2O cycles nutrients in autumn

21. 4. High Specific heat H2O resists changes in temperature
Highest specific heat capacity of any liquid
takes a lot to heat it up
takes a lot to cool it down
Helps organisms maintain a constant body temperature
Specific heat
H2O resists changes in temperature
high specific heat = heats & cools slowly
takes a lot to heat it up
takes a lot to cool it down
H2O moderates temperatures on Earth

22. 5. Heat of vaporization
Water also has a high heat of vaporization- takes a long time to change state from liquid to gas
As water molecules evaporate, the surface they evaporate from gets cooler, a process called evaporative cooling. 
In humans and other organisms, the evaporation of sweat, which is 90% water, cools the body to maintain a steady temperature.

23. 5. Heat of vaporization Evaporative cooling
Organisms rely on heat of vaporization to remove body heat

24. Ionization of water & pH
Water ionizes
H+ splits off from H2O, leaving OH–
if [H+] = [-OH], water is neutral
if [H+] > [-OH], water is acidic
if [H+] < [-OH], water is basic
pH scale
how acid or basic solution is
1  7  14
Water ionizes
H+ splits off from H2O, leaving OH–
H2O  H+ + OH–
if [H+] = [-OH], water is neutral
if [H+] > [-OH], water is acidic
if [H+] < [-OH], water is basic
pH scale
how acid or basic solution is
1  7  14
H2O  H+ + OH–

25. cellular regulation pH of cells must be kept ~7
pH affects shape of molecules
shape of molecules affect function
therefore pH affects cellular function
Exercise = acidic in muscles
CO2 = carbonic acid
lactic acid
body uses buffers to counter act this

26. Any Questions? Do one brave thing today…then run like hell!
He’s gonna earn a Darwin Award!
Any Questions?
Do one brave thing today…then run like hell!