1. Chemical Compounds in Cells
Essential Questions:
What are elements and compounds?
What are the main kinds of organic molecules in living things?
How is water important to the function of cells?

2. Key Terms Element Carbohydrate Protein Enzyme DNA Compound Lipid
Amino acid
Nucleic acid
RNA

3. Elements and Compounds
any substance that cannot be broken down into simpler substances, smallest unit is the atom. Ex: carbon (C), hydrogen (H), oxygen (O), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and sulfur (S).
Compounds
two or more elements combined chemically, smallest unit is the molecule. EX. Water H2O, carbon dioxide CO2

4. Organic and Inorganic Compounds
contain carbon
Important organic compounds found in living things: carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and nucleic acids
Inorganic compounds
Don’t contain carbon
Ex. Water, salt (sodium chloride, NaCl)

5. Carbohydrates
Carbohydrate – energy rich organic compound made of the elements, C,H, and O.
Ex: Sugars and starches and cellulose
Cellulose
is a type of carbohydrate found in cell wall
Sugars
produced during food-making process in plants
Foods such as fruits and some vegetables have high sugar content
Starches
complex carbohydrates, formed when sugar molecules combine to form large molecules, plants store excess energy in molecules of starch
Foods such as potatoes, pasta , rice and bread contain starches

6. Glucose – C6H12O6

7. Lipids
Lipids are energy-rich organic compounds of C,H, and O, but contain even more energy than carbohydrates
Fats, oils and waxes are lipids
Cells store energy as lipids for later use
Cell membranes are mostly lipids

8. Proteins
Proteins, large organic molecules made of C,H,O, N, and sometimes, S
Foods high in proteins include meat, eggs, fish, nuts, and beans
Structure: made of amino acids
Only 20 amino acids, but cells can combine them to form thousands of proteins
Function: much of structure of cells, form parts of cell membranes and many organelles
Enzymes are proteins that speeds up a chemical reaction in living things, without enzymes many necessary chemical reactions would not take place

9. Nucleic Acids
Nucleic acids – very long organic molecules made of C, O, H, N, and P.
Contain instructions that cells need to carry out all the functions of life
2 kinds: DNA, and RNA
DNA: (deoxyribonucleic acid), genetic material that carries information about an organism and is passed from parent to offspring. Most found in nucleus
RNA: (ribonucleic acid), important role in production of proteins. Found in cytoplasm as well as nucleus

10. Water and Living Things
Makes up 2/3 of your body.
Most chemical reactions within cells could not take place without water
Helps keep cells their size and shape
Water changes temperature slowly, helps keep temperature of cells stable