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

3. 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?

4. What elements are we made up of?

5. 3.1 Chemical elements
Most frequently occurring elements: CHON

6. 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

7. 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

8. 3.2 What other elements are needed?
Sodium
essential in animal neuron membrane potential, required for nerve impulse transmission

9. 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.

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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