Chemicals in the
body
Chapter 2
Elements
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Our bodies are a form of matter
Matter is made of elements
Therefore our body is made of elements
4 main elements make up the majority of
the body (96%)
 Oxygen (65%)
 Carbon (18.5%)
 Hydrogen (9.5%)
 Nitrogen (3.2%)
Elements
 These four are the fundamental
elements in most organic and some
inorganic compounds
 Explains why they are so common
 However, there are many other
elements involved in the body
 Each has their own unique function
that they serve and problems that
will occur if they are not present
Sodium
 Roles
 Nerve impulses
 Fluid balance
 Acid-base
 Deficiency
 Dehydration
 Cramps
Zinc
 Roles
 maintenance of immune system
 Co-factor for enzymes (metabolism of
carbohydrates)
 Smell and Taste
 Deficiency
 Impaired taste and smell
 Increased infections
Copper
 Roles
 Red blood cell (hemoglobin)
production
 Deficiency
 Different things can happen, but most
are tied with other elements
Chlorine
 Roles
 Acid-base balance
 Fluid balance
 Deficiency
 Alkolosis
 Dehydration
 Similar roles to what other element?
Iodine
 Roles
 Normal metabolism-production of
thyroid hormones
 Deficiency
 Goiter
 Hypothyroidism
Iron
 Roles
 Red blood cell production (part of
protein hemoglobin)
 Deficiency
 Anemia (most common deficiency
world-wide)
 Lack energy
 Shortness of breath
 Why are women at a higher risk for
deficiency?
Chromium
 Roles
 Co-factors for enzymes to catabolize
fats
 Insulin metabolism
 Synthesis of cholesterol
 Deficiency
 Impaired HDL
 Inability to stabilize sugar levels in
blood
Calcium
 Roles
 Bones
 Muscle contraction
 Nerve impulses in the brain
 Deficiency
 Osteoporosis
 Cramps
 Muscle spasm
Potassium
 Roles
 Help transfer materials in and out of
cells
 Nerve impulses
 Deficiency
 Muscle cramping
 Inability to conduct nerve impulses
Vitamin B6
 Roles
 Amino acid metabolism
 Antibody formation
 Mood regulation
 Deficiency
 Depression
Vitamin C
 Roles
 Improves iron absorption
 Antioxidant
 Deficiency
 scurvy
1. An individual experiences
shortness of breath due to lack of
oxygen transported to tissues.
2. An individual experiences
irregularity in metabolic processes
because enzymes are not activated.
3. An individual experiences
muscle cramping along with a
water imbalance. Also, the ability
to conduct nerve impulses is being
hindered.
4. An individual experiences
weak bones.
5. An individual experience
problems with metabolism due to
lack of functionality among thyroid
hormones.
6. An individual experiences a
lack of cellular energy.
7. An individual experiences
dizziness and a headache due to
blood alkalosis
Bonding and Reactions
 One of the primary functions of all
elements in the body is to react and
bond to create compounds
 2 main types of reactions
 Synthesis (A + B -> AB)
 Decomposition (AB -> A + B)
Examples of Reactions
Exchange Reaction
 The Synth. and Decomp. reactions
will often combine to create an
Exchange Reaction.
 AB + C -> AC + B
 AB + CD -> AD + CB
Biochemistry: Compounds
 All chemicals in the body fall into
two categories
 Inorganic Compounds
 Organic Compounds
 Both categories are important, just
in different ways
Inorganic Compounds:
Water
 Most abundant inorganic compound in
the body
 Characteristics that make it valuable
 High Heat Capacity
 Prevents sudden body temp changes
 It’s a great solvent
 Can help transport substances
 Chemical reactivity
 Hydrolysis reactions – break down food
 Cushioning (ex. Brain)
Inorganic Compounds:
Salts and Acids & Bases
 Salts
 Serve as electrolytes
 Nerve impulses, muscle contraction,
transport substances
 Acids and Bases
 Also serve as electrolytes
 Play huge role in reactions
 Proton donors or accepters
 Maintain body pH
Organic Compounds:
Carbohydrates
 Contain carbon, hydrogen, and
oxygen
 Include sugars and starches
 Classified according to size
 Monosaccharides – simple sugars
 Disaccharides – two simple sugars
joined by dehydration synthesis
 Polysaccharides – long branching
chains of linked simple sugars
Organic Compounds:
Carbohydrates
Organic Compounds:
Carbohydrates
 Primary use of carbohydrates is
energy for the body
 Broken down through hydrolysis to
be used for energy
 If not needed for immediate energy
they are stored as glycogen
 An energy reserve molecule
Organic Compounds:
Lipids
 Diverse group of compounds
 Includes triglycerides, phospholipids, and
steroids
 Triglycerides = body fat
 Used for energy reserve, insulate body, and
protect the deeper tissues
 Phospholipids
 Found in cell membranes to provide structure
and selective permeability.
 Steroids
 Most diverse, function depends on what it is
Organic Compounds:
Proteins
 Also very diverse, account for over
50% of the organic matter in the
body
 Built from chains of amino acids
 Have the most varied functions of
any organic molecules
 Provide material for body and cells
 Types of proteins: Structural
(fibrous) and Functional (globular)
Organic Compounds:
Proteins
 Structural Proteins
 Very Stable
 Provide strength and support
 Examples: Collagen, Keratin
 Functional Proteins
 Unstable: Only work in certain conditions
 4 Types: Antibodies, Hormones,
Transport, Catalysts (enzymes)
Organic Compounds:
Proteins
 Antibodies
 Attack “invading” foreign substances
 Hormones
 Regulate growth, development,
metabolism, etc.
 Transport proteins
 Transport substance (ex. Hemoglobin)
 Enzymes
 Cause reactions to happen in the body
Organic Compounds:
Nucleic Acids
 One function, but a major one
 Encode all genetic information
 They are the blueprints for life
 How do they do this?
 They are instructions to build the
proteins for the body
 Examples: DNA and RNA
Organic compounds:
ATP
 Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP)
 Provides the form of chemical
energy usable by all cells
 ATP -> ADP + P + Energy
 What type of reaction is this?
 Releases energy
 Flip the arrow around and it is
storing energy