Chemistry of Life

Matter

Anything that takes up space and has mass. Can be a liquid, solid, or gas!

Element

Basic unit of matter, and 92 naturally occurring.

Atom

Smallest complete unit of an element

Protons

The atomic number

Neutrons

The atomic number minus the number of protons

CHON

Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen

*CHONIES*

Make up 96% of living matter

Remaining 4% consists of calcium, phosphorus, potassium, and sulfur.

Trace elements

Those required by an organism in minute quantities

Ex) iron and iodine

Compound

A substance consisting of two or more elements in a fixed ratio. A compound has characteristics different from those of its elements.

Two DIFFERENT elements

Molecules

Formed when two or more elements are bonded together

Molecule Ex) O=O double bond

Compound Ex) H20 (different elements)

Isotopes

Two atoms of an element that differ in number of neutrons

An Element’s mass number

Sum of protons plus neutrons in the nucleus

Potential energy

Energy that matter has because of its location or structure. The electrons of an atom differ in their amounts of potench. energy.

Electron’s state of potential energy

electron shell

valence shell

predicts how bonds behave

Elements in the same ___ have the same number of shells

Row

Elements in the same ____ have the same # of valence electrons

Column

Strong bonds

Covalent Bonds (because they share and are strong)

Covalent Bonds

the sharing of a pair of valence electrons by two atoms. In a ____ the shared electrons count as a part of each atom’s valence shell.

Nonpolar covalent bond

Share electrons equally

Ex) O=O

Polar covalent bond

UNEQUAL sharing of electrons between atoms

Ionic Bonds

Two atoms attract valence electrons so unequally that the more electronegative atom STEALS the electron away from the less electronegative atom

Electronegativity

How able an atom is to attract electrons

Catalyst

Accelerates the rate of the reaction but does not undergo a chemical change itself. Since it is not changed by the reaction, it can be used over and over again!

Ex) Enzymes (that help break down our food)

Metabolism

Breakdown of substances (catabolism), the formation of new products synthesis or anabolism, or the transferring of every form one substance to another

Dipole

Two poles

Cell

Smallest unit of anything living

Polar

One region of molecules has more positively charged side and a more negatively charged side (like opposites)

A water molecules can form a max of _____ at a time

4 bonds

Fats are made up of ____

Hydrocarbon (H and C)

When water becomes a gas

Strong energy (heat) breaks hydrogen bonds

Example) when boiling tea

PH of cells

Must be kept about the PH of 7

What affects the shape of molecules

Our PH

What affects cellular function?

Our PH affects C.F.

Cell control PH by buffers

(In our bodies)

They have a reservoir of H+

Cells donate H+ when the number of H+ falls

They absorb H+ when the number of H+ rises

Macromolecule

A large molecules (polymer) composed of many smaller organic molecules called monomers

Monomer

A molecule that can chemically react with other like molecules to form a larger molecule called a polymer

Polymer

A large molecule composed of smaller units, called monomers, linked together by chemical bonds

Carbon has…

4 valence electrons and can form 4 covalent bonds

Cells made of:

72% h20

25% carbon compounds

3% salts

CHONSP

Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, and phosphorus