UNIT 1: CHEMICAL BASIS OF LIFE
1B: Basic Chemistry
Roadmap for the year:
Themes for the year:
Unit 1: Chemical Basis of Life
How does this unit contribute to your
understanding of the following themes?
 1A Characteristics of Living Things
 1B Basic Chemistry
 Life on Earth has various Levels of
 1C Biochemistry
Organization
Unit 2: Ecology and Human Impact
 The Structure of Living Things
Unit 3: Cell Biology
leads to their Function
Unit 4: Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology
Unit 5: Genetics and Evolution
Unit 6: Human Body Systems
The Big Picture for Unit 1…
 Science is a body of knowledge and skills acquired through systematic experimentation and
observation to describe natural phenomena; or, more simply, it is a “way of knowing”. The
diversity of life is the result of ongoing evolutionary change. Species alive today have evolved
from ancient common ancestors. All organisms share a set of fundamental characteristics which
define “life.” Living organisms are made of molecules that react with each other in predictable
ways. There are four main groups of biological molecules that make up the structure of living
things and control their functioning.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
What is science? What is biology?
What does it mean to be ‘alive’?
How can species change over time?
What are the basic chemical principles that affect living things?
How do the unique properties of water make life on earth possible? Why is water so
important to organisms?
What role do biological molecules play in sustaining and controlling life?
How do chemicals combine and break apart inside living things?
How do enzymes control the rate of reactions?
How does chemical structure lead to biological function?
Suggested Resources…
Textbook: Biology (Miller and Levine, 2010) (Sections 2.1, part of 2.2, and the Periodic Table of
Elements)
Websites: www.webelelements.com
Directions: Below are check lists of things you should know and things you should be
able to do by the end of the unit. Use this tool to help you prepare for the unit assessment.
By the conclusion of this unit, you should
know the following:
9. Some covalent bonds don’t share
electrons equally and result in
molecules which have unequal charge
distribution (polar covalent bonds).
1. An atom is the basic unit of matter.
An element is a pure substance that
consists entirely of one type of atom.
10.Water is a polar molecule. Therefore,
A compound is a substance formed by
it is able to form multiple hydrogen
the chemical combination of two or
bonds, which account for many of its
more elements in definite proportions.
special properties.
A molecule is the smallest unit of
most compounds that displays all the
11.Water’s special properties allow it to
properties of that compound.
act as solvent in which solutions can
2. The basic structure of an atom
form. Some molecules (polar)
(protons, neutrons and electrons) and
dissolve and some (ionic compounds)
the charges of the subatomic particles.
dissociate.
3. The Periodic Table of the Elements is By the conclusion of this unit, you should
an important resource developed as a
be able to do the following:
result of many scientific discoveries
which is crucial to the study of
1. Define atom, element, compound, and
chemistry.
molecule.
4. Atoms interact based on the number of
electrons in their valence level to form
2. Identify the three types of subatomic
molecules.
particles found in atoms.
5. Atoms may bond with other atoms in
order to form stable molecules (i.e.,
3. Use the Periodic Table of the
covalent bonds form when atoms
Elements to determine the reactivity of
share electrons).
an atom of any particular element and
6. Equations, chemical names, chemical
predict the number of bonds which it
formulas, structural formulas,
will be able to form
symbols, subscripts, and/or
coefficients can be used to represent
4. Explain why some atoms are more
atoms, molecules and/or chemical
reactive than others.
reactions.
7. Chemical reactions occur when
5. Describe covalent bonding.
molecules (reactants) interact and
bonds break and reform in new
6. Realize that reactants form products in
configurations (products).
a chemical reaction and follow the law
8. The Law of Conservation of Matter
of conservation of matter.
governs chemical reactions.
BASIC CHEMISTRY KEY TERMS
Words found in the textbook:
1. Atom
2. Molecule
3. Electron
4. Nucleus
5. Element
6. Covalent Bond
7. Reactants
8. Products
Words NOT found in the textbook (use your note packet- you may have to
generate definition in your own words- give it a try!!)
9. Matter
10. Proton
11. Neutron
12. Valence level
13. Octet Rule
14. Atomic Number
15. Mass Number
16. Atomic Symbol
17. Periodic Table
18. HONC (what does this stand for?)
19. Reactivity
20. Chemical Bond
21. Stable/Unreactive
22. Unstable/reactive
23. Neutral
24. Charge
25. Chemical Formula
26. Chemical Equation
27. Coefficient
28. Structural Formula
29. Subscript
30. Law of Conservation of Matter