Ch. 2 Basic Chemistry
Chemistry is important to biology because:
Most cells functions involve chemical reactions.
Cell functions are regulated.
The atoms and molecules of the Earth cycle among the living and nonliving
components of the biosphere.
The chemical bonds of food molecules contain energy.
The complexity and organization of organisms accommodates the need for
obtaining, transforming, transporting, releasing, and eliminating the matter and
energy used to sustain the organism.
As matter and energy flow through different levels of organization of living
things- cells, organs, organisms, communities- and between living systems and
the physical environment, chemical elements are recombined in different ways.
A Review of Chemistry Concepts Learned in
Physical Science
Periodic Table Song
Parts of an Atom Song
Atoms Bonding Song
Chemical Reactions Song
2.1 Composition of Matter
Chemistry as it related to biology
A. Matter
What is matter?
B. Atomic Structure
The atomic mass of an atom is about equal to the sum of its protons
and neutrons
All atoms of an element have the same number of protons, the atom's
atomic number
Interactive Periodic Table | Cartoon Periodic Table
Isotopes
Isotopes are atoms with the same number of protons
but differ in number of neutrons; e.g., a carbon atom
has six protons but may have more or less than usual
six neutrons.
Carbon 14 - Break it Down!
Carbon- 12 is the most common form of carbon, it has 6 protons,
6 electrons, and 6 neutrons
It is called Carbon 12 because that is its weight (6 + 6 )
Carbon 14 has 2 extra neutrons, its weight is 14 (6 + 8 ); it is an
isotope of carbon
A carbon with eight rather than six neutrons is unstable; it releases rays
and subatomic particles and is a radioactive isotope.
Sample Question:A 200 g
sample of muskopfonian is
left in a container , the half
life of muskopfonian is 1
hour. How much of the
sample will be left after 4
hours?
Answer:
200 x .5 = 100 (hour 1)
100 x .5 = 50 (hour 2)
50 x .5 = 25 (hour 3)
25 x .5 = 12.5 (hour 4)
Quick Activity: The Half Life of Twizzlers
http://www.biologycorner.com/worksheets/decay_twizzlers.html
Low levels of radiation such as radioactive iodine or glucose allow
researchers to trace the location and activity of the atom in living
tissues; therefore these isotopes are called tracers
which are used in CAT scans
High levels of radiation can cause cancerous tissues and destroy cells;
careful use of radiation in turn can sterilize products and kill cancer cells.
Pick your favorite element from the table. Turn and tell your lab partner
what it is, how many protons, electrons and neutrons it has, and what it's
atomic weight is.
Elements and Compounds
Compounds
When two or more different elements react or bond together, they form a
compound (e.g., H2O).
Electrons possess energy and bonds that exist between atoms in molecules
contain energy.
Glycine
Ionic Bonding
Covalent Bonding
Carbon has amazing bonding properties, as we will
learn in the next chapter on BIOCHEMISTRY
Nonpolar and Polar Covalent Bonds
1. In nonpolar covalent bonds, sharing of electrons is equal.
2. With polar covalent bonds, the sharing of electrons is unequal.
a. In water molecule (H2O), sharing of electrons by oxygen and hydrogen is not
equal; the oxygen atom with more protons dominates the H2O association.
*The oxygen then assumes a small negative charge *
Hydrogen Bonding
1. A hydrogen bond is weak attractive force between slightly positive hydrogen atom of one
molecule and slightly negative atom in another or the same molecule.
2. Many hydrogen bonds taken together are relatively strong.
3. Hydrogen bonds between complex molecules of cells help maintain structure and function.
Hydrogen bonds
create surface tension.
Section 2.2 Electrons and Energy
Electrons occupy an orbital at some level near or distant from
the nucleus of the atom.
When atoms absorb energy during photosynthesis, electrons are
boosted to higher energy levels.
The innermost shell of an atom is complete with two electrons; all
other shells are complete with eight electrons.
DRAW IT!
QUICK!!
1. Draw six protons in the nucleus of the atom.
2. Draw six neutrons in the nucleus of the atom.
3. Draw two electrons in the first energy level and label them with
their charge.
4. Draw four electrons in the second energy level and label them with
their charge.
5. What element is it!? __________
(the future of the human race depends on it!)
2.3. Water and Solutions
A. First Cells Evolved in Water
1. All living things are 70.90% water.
2. Because water is a polar molecule, water molecules are hydrogen
bonded to each other.
3. With hydrogen bonding, water is liquid between 0 C and 100 C
which is critical for life.
B. Properties of Water
1. The temperature of liquid water rises and falls more slowly than that of most
other liquids..
a. Calorie is amount of heat energy required to raise temperature of one gram
of water 1o C.
b. Because water holds more heat, its temperature falls more slowly than other
liquids; this protects
organisms from rapid temperature changes and helps them maintain normal
temperatures.
2. Water has a high heat of vaporization.
a. Hydrogen bonds between water molecules require a large amount of
heat to break.
b. This property moderates earth's surface temperature; permits living
systems to exist here.
c. When animals sweat, evaporation of the sweat takes away body heat,
thus cooling the animal.
3. Water is universal solvent, facilitates chemical reactions both
outside of and within living systems..
a. Water is a universal solvent because it dissolves a great number of
solutes.
b. Ionized or polar molecules attracted to water are hydrophilic.
c. Nonionized and nonpolar molecules that cannot attract water are
hydrophobic.
Solvents dissolve other substances
(solutes) and do not lose their own
properties.
If we use a simple and easy example, we can
get a handle on the idea. Take a glass of warm
water, put a teaspoon of table salt in it, and stir
it. The salt will dissolve in the water and
"disappear" from view. The water is
the solvent here, the salt is the solute in this
example, and the resulting salt water is
a solution that we created. It's that simple.
C. Acids and Bases
1. Covalently bonded water molecules ionize; the atoms dissociate into ions.
2. When water ionizes or dissociates, it releases a small (107 moles/liter) but
equal number of H+ and OH
ions; thus, its pH is neutral.
3. Water dissociates into hydrogen and hydroxide ions:
4. Acid molecules dissociate in water, releasing hydrogen ions (H+) ions: HCl ¨
H+ + Cl-.
5. Bases are molecules that take up hydrogen ions or release hydroxide ions.
NaOH ¨ Na+ + OH-.
See also: Acid & Base
Coloring
6. The pH scale indicates acidity and
basicity (alkalinity) of a solution.
1) One mole of water has 107
moles/liter of hydrogen ions; therefore,
has neutral pH of 7.
2) Acid is a substance with pH less
than 7; base is a substance with pH
greater than 7.
3) As logarithmic scale, each lower unit
has 10 times the amount of hydrogen
ions as next higher pH unit;
* Buffers keep pH steady and within
normal limits in living organisms..