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Unit 1: AP Bio - Chemistry of Life
Central Idea: Chemistry is the foundation of life and understanding the principles of biochemistry is essential in studying biology.
Main Branches:
Atoms and Molecules
Subatomic particles
Atomic structure
Chemical bonds
Molecular formulas
Water and Its Properties
Polarity of water
Hydrogen bonding
Cohesion and adhesion
High specific heat capacity
Macromolecules
Carbohydrates
Monosaccharides
Disaccharides
Polysaccharides
Lipids
Fatty acids
Triglycerides
Phospholipids
Steroids
Proteins
Amino acids
Protein structure
Enzymes
Nucleic acids
DNA
RNA
Chemical Reactions
Energy and chemical reactions
Enzymes and activation energy
Factors affecting enzyme activity
Metabolic pathways
Cellular Respiration and Photosynthesis
ATP and energy transfer
Glycolysis
Krebs cycle
Electron transport chain
Photosynthesis process
Acids, Bases, and pH
pH scale
Acidic, basic, and neutral solutions
Buffers and their role
Properties of Carbon
Carbon bonding
Organic compounds
Functional groups
Isomers
Biochemical Reactions
Dehydration synthesis
Hydrolysis
Redox reactions
Substrate-level phosphorylation
Biological Macromolecules and Their Functions
Carbohydrates in energy storage and structure
Lipids in energy storage and cell membrane structure
Proteins in structure, enzymes, and cell signaling
Nucleic acids in genetic information storage
Emergent Properties
Levels of biological organization
Emergent properties in complex systems
Examples of emergent properties
Chemistry and the Origin of Life
Miller-Urey experiment
Prebiotic chemistry
AP Biology Unit 1: Chemistry of Life
1. Introduction to Chemistry
Chemistry is the study of matter and its interactions.
Matter is anything that occupies space and has mass.
Atoms are the basic units of matter, composed of protons, neutrons, and electrons.
2. Atomic Structure
Protons have a positive charge, neutrons have no charge, and electrons have a negative charge.
The atomic number represents the number of protons in an atom.
The mass number is the sum of protons and neutrons in an atom.
Isotopes are atoms with the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons.
3. Chemical Bonds
Covalent bonds occur when atoms share electrons.
Ionic bonds form when electrons are transferred between atoms, creating ions.
Hydrogen bonds are weak attractions between a hydrogen atom and an electronegative atom.
4. Water and Its Properties
Water is a polar molecule due to its unequal sharing of electrons.
Cohesion is the attraction between water molecules, leading to surface tension.
Adhesion is the attraction between water molecules and other substances.
Water has a high specific heat, allowing it to resist temperature changes.
Water has a high heat of vaporization, making it an effective coolant.
5. pH and Buffers
pH measures the concentration of hydrogen ions in a solution.
Acidic solutions have a low pH, while basic solutions have a high pH.
Buffers help maintain a stable pH by accepting or donating hydrogen ions.
6. Organic Molecules
Carbon is the backbone of organic molecules due to its ability to form four covalent bonds.
Carbohydrates are composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, and serve as a source of energy.
Lipids are hydrophobic molecules that store energy and form cell membranes.
Proteins are composed of amino acids and perform various functions in cells.
Nucleic acids, such as DNA and RNA, store and transmit genetic information.
7. Enzymes
Enzymes are biological catalysts that speed up chemical reactions.
They lower the activation energy required for a reaction to occur.
Enzymes are specific to their substrates and can be regulated by factors like temperature and pH.
These notes provide a brief overview of the chemistry of life covered in AP Biology Unit 1
Atom - The basic unit of matter, consisting of protons, neutrons, and electrons.
Element - A pure substance made up of only one type of atom.
Molecule - A group of atoms bonded together.
Compound - A substance composed of two or more different elements chemically combined.
Ion - An atom or molecule that has gained or lost electrons, resulting in a positive or negative charge.
pH - A measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a solution.
Acid - A substance that donates hydrogen ions and has a pH less than 7.
Base - A substance that accepts hydrogen ions and has a pH greater than 7.
Organic molecule - A molecule containing carbon atoms bonded to hydrogen atoms.
Carbohydrate - A biomolecule composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, used for energy storage and structural support.
Lipid - A biomolecule composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, used for energy storage, insulation, and cell membrane structure.
Protein - A biomolecule composed of amino acids, used for structural support, enzymatic activity, and cell signaling.
Nucleic acid - A biomolecule composed of nucleotides, used for genetic information storage and protein synthesis.
Enzyme - A protein that acts as a catalyst, speeding up chemical reactions in cells.
Substrate - The specific molecule that an enzyme acts upon.
Active site - The region on an enzyme where the substrate binds and the chemical reaction occurs.
Activation energy - The energy required to start a chemical reaction.
Catalyst - A substance that speeds up the rate of a chemical reaction without being consumed in the process.
Hydrolysis - A chemical reaction that breaks down molecules by adding water.
Dehydration synthesis - A chemical reaction that combines molecules by removing water.
Note: This list includes key vocabulary and phrases related to the chemistry of life in AP Biology Unit 1.