The Chemistry of Life

Flashcards on the chemistry of life, levels of organization, characteristics of life, inorganic and organic compounds, minerals, water, organic compounds (carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, nucleic acids, vitamins), enzymes, and food tests.

What elements primarily make up organic molecules?

Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, Nitrogen, and Phosphorus

What are the four main types of organic molecules in cells?

Proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids, and vitamins.

What is the chemical formula for water?

2 Hydrogen and 1 Oxygen

List examples of minerals that are important for the human body.

Sodium, Potassium, Calcium, Phosphorus, Iron, Iodine, nitrates, phosphates

Give examples of monosaccharides (single sugars).

Glucose, fructose

Give examples of disaccharides (double sugars).

Sucrose, maltose

Give examples of polysaccharides (many sugars).

Starch, cellulose, glycogen

What are the building blocks of lipids (fats and oils)?

1 glycerol and 3 fatty acids

What are the building blocks of proteins?

Amino acids

To what factors are proteins sensitive?

Temperature and pH

What is the role of enzymes?

Breaking down or synthesizing molecules

What are the two types of nucleic acids?

DNA and RNA

Give examples of Vitamins.

A, B, C, D, and E

List the levels of organization from smallest to largest.

Atom, Molecule, Cell, Tissue, Organ, Organ System, Organism, Population, Community, Ecosystem, Biosphere

What is an atom?

Smallest unit of a substance that maintains the properties of an element.

What is a molecule?

Two or more atoms bound together by chemical bonds.

What is a cell?

Basic unit of life.

What is a tissue?

A group of cells with a similar structure and function.

What is an organ?

Made up of tissues that perform a specific job.

What is an organ system?

Multiple organs working together to perform the same function.

What is an organism?

An individual of a specific species made up of multiple organ systems.

What is a population?

A group of organisms living together and are able to interbreed with one another.

What is a community?

Different populations living together in a specific area.

What is an ecosystem?

Any well-defined area in which there is a close interaction between the plants, animals, and environment.

What is the biosphere?

The part of the Earth in which living organisms are found.

What are the characteristics of life?

Metabolism, Reproduction, Stimuli, Movement, Growth, Homeostasis, Excretion, and Respiration

What are the defining characteristics of an inorganic compound?

Does not contain carbon and produced from non-living matter.

What are the defining characteristics of an organic compound?

Does contain carbon and produced by living organisms.

What is a macro element?

Required in large amounts.

What is a micro element?

Required in small amounts.

What is the function of sodium (Na)?

Functioning of nerves & muscles and regulates secretion of HCl in the stomach

What is the function of potassium (K)?

Regulates blood pressure, nerve function, and muscle control & cellular respiration

What is the function of calcium (Ca)?

Formation of bone & teeth and blood clotting

What is the function of phosphorus (P)?

Formation of cell membranes, nucleic acids, ATP, bones & teeth

What is the function of iron (Fe)?

Formation of haemoglobin to carry oxygen

What is the function of iodine (I)?

Formation of thyroxin (hormone secreted by the thyroid gland)

What is the function of nitrogen (N)?

Formation of amino acids (monomers for proteins) and nucleic acids (DNA & RNA)

What percentage of the Earth's surface is water?

± 75%

What percentage of cells is made up of water?

70-75%

What is water made up of?

2 hydrogens and 1 oxygen

What are the functions of water?

Required for digestion, chemical reactions, transports food, dissolves waste products

What elements do organic compounds always contain?

Always contain Carbon (C), hydrogen (H), and Oxygen (O)

What is the building block of carbohydrates?

Saccharide

What happens during dehydration synthesis?

A water (H2O) molecule is removed

What are the functions of carbohydrates?

Source of energy, for cell walls, storage of energy

What is the chemical test for glucose?

Reagents: Benedict Solution or Fehling's, Positive Result: orange-red precipitate

What is the chemical test for starch?

Reagents: Iodine, Positive Result: Blue-Black colour

What are lipids known as?

Fats and oils, triglycerides

What are saturated fats?

Solid at room temperature and all available bonds of carbon are filled with hydrogen atoms.

What are unsaturated fats?

Not completely filled by hydrogen and one or more double bonds in the carbon chain.

What are the functions of lipids?

Storage and source of energy, packaging material, insulation

What is the chemical test for lipids?

Alcohol, White filtrate

What element must proteins contain?

Nitrogen

What is the monomer of a protein?

Amino Acid

What does it mean when proteins denature?

Sensitive to changes in temperature and pH. They lose their structure and function.

What is the Biuret Test?

Pour a little egg white into a test-tube, add NaOH solution and CuSO4 solution, heat gently to boiling point, and violet to rose-pink colour indicates presence of proteins

What are characteristics related to organic compounds?

A is that it contains nitrogen, B says that it contains oxygen, hydrogen, and carbon, C is energy source, D says the H:O ratio is 2:1, E says it denatures by heat

What are food tests for glucose, starch, protein, and lipids?

Benedict's Test, Iodine, Biuret, and Emulsion

What is an enzyme?

Biological catalyst which speeds up chemical reactions in living organisms without being used up in the reaction themselves.

What do enzymes use to work?

Lock-and-key Mechanism

What are the two categories of enzymes?

Anabolic: Building up and Catabolic: Breaking Down

What are enzymes sensitive to?

Temperature: Optimum temperature for humans is close to 37°C and pH: Each enzyme has an optimum pH

Enzymes used to clean things, meat tenderizers and beer wine and vinegar making.

Proteases, Amylases, and Lipases

What is the function of enzymes?

Is an organic substance that promotes chemical change without being used up in the reaction itself

Where are chromosomes found?

In the nucleus of cells are chromosomes, which are made up of DNA

Who discovered DNA?

James Watson and Francis Crick

What is the structure of DNA?

Double Helix, twisted ladder-like structure

What is the function of DNA?

Carry a code for proteins to be formed, proteins form the main parts of a cell, genes control the structure of organisms

What is the structure of RNA?

Single Stranded

What are the types of RNA used in grade 12?

MRNA, ERNA, TRNA

What is the function of RNA?

Protein synthesis

What is the function of vitamins?

Found in small quantities in natural foods, no nutritional value but needed for metabolic rxns

Where do vitamins come from?

Plants and Animals

What is the function of Vitamin A?

Correct function on the eye

What is the function of Vitamin B?

Co-enzyme in cellular respiration

What is the function of Vitamin C?

Maintains intercellular substance in cartilage, bone and dentine

What is the function of Vitamin D?

Increases absorption of Ca and P and needed for bone formation

What is the function of Vitamin E?

Prevents oxidation of unsaturated fatty acids

What is the deficiency of Vitamin A?

Night Blindness or Xerophthalmia

What is the deficiency of Vitamin B?

Beri-Beri: stunted growth, heart disorders, interruption of nervous system, affects muscle strength and reduces growth. Can lead to paralysis and death.

What is the deficiency of Vitamin C?

Scurvy: bleeding and swollen gums (loss of teeth), bleeding under the skin (especially at the joints, poor healing of wounds, weakness and low immunity.

What is the deficiency of Vitamin D?

Rickets in children and Osteomalacia in adults

What is the deficiency of Vitamin E?

Haemorrhage: excessive bleeding External and Internal