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Chapter Overview

• Chapter 2: The Chemistry of Life

Key Concepts

Elements

• Components of Matter

• Atoms: Single elemental units that make up elements.

Chemical Bonds

• Covalent Bonding

  • Involves sharing of electron pairs.

  • Nonpolar vs. Polar Covalent Bonds: differentiate based on electron sharing.

  • Multiple covalent bonds may exist between atoms.

• Hydrogen Bonding

  • Essential for properties like surface tension in water.

Vocabulary

• Solvent: Fluid in which substances dissolve; in the human body, water is the solvent.

• Solute: Substance that is dissolved; can be hydrophilic or hydrophobic.

• Solution: Resulting mixture of solute in solvent.

Types of Chemical Bonds and Molecules

• Ionic Molecules: Formed when electrons are transferred.

• Polar Covalent Molecules: Unequal sharing of electrons.

• Nonpolar Covalent Compounds: Equal sharing of electrons.

Energy in Chemical Bonds

Potential and Kinetic Energy

• Potential Energy: Energy stored in chemical bonds.

• Kinetic Energy: Energy of motion.

Classes of Chemical Reactions

• Anabolic/Synthesis/Endergonic: A + B → AB

• Catabolic/Breakdown/Exergonic: AB → A + B

• Exchange Reaction: AB + CD → AC + BD

Activation Energy

• The energy required for a reaction to occur and the effect of enzymes.

  • Enzymes lower activation energy.

  • Enzyme-Substrate Interaction: Specific binding between enzymes and substrates.

Acids and Bases in Water

The pH Scale

• pH: Measure of hydrogen ion concentration; affects biological functions.

  • Negative logarithmic scale: [H+]; each increment indicates a 10x change (e.g., 1 increment = 10x, 2 increments = 100x).

Biological Macromolecules

Carbohydrates

• Monosaccharides: Simple sugars.

• Disaccharides: Two monosaccharides linked.

• Polysaccharides: Chains of monosaccharides.

Proteins

• Monomers: Building blocks are amino acids.