1A -1 THE CHEMISTRY

OF LIFE
1.1 Understand the importance of water as a
solvent in transport, including its dipole nature.
ATOMS
➤ The basic unit of all elements is
the ______________
➤ When the atoms of two or more
different elements react, they
form a ______________.
➤ An atom is made up of a nucleus
containing
____________________________
and
_____________________________
➤ The nucleus is surrounded by
_____________________________
ATOMS
➤ When an atom has a full outer shell of electrons, it is stable and
does not react.
➤ However, most atoms do not have a full outer shell of electrons.
➤ In chemical reactions, these electrons are involved in changes that
give the atom a stable outer shell.
DRAW THE ATOM OF POTASSIUM (K)
CHEMICAL BONDS
➤ Depending on how the chemical bonds within and between
the molecules are formed, they affect the properties of the
compound created
We have two types of bonds:
➤ ______________ bonds- the atoms give or take electrons
➤ ________________ bonds - the atoms share electrons
IONIC BONDS
➤ Ionic bonds- the atoms give or take electrons
___________ (-): gains electrons
____________ (+): loses electrons
- Strong forces of attraction formed between the opposite
charged ions hold them together
COVALENT BONDS
➤ Covalent bonding - the atoms ________ electrons
Covalent bonds are very strong and the molecules formed are usually neutral.
In some covalent compounds, the molecules are slightly polarised: this means that
the electrons in the covalent bonds are not quite evenly shared.
Molecules are __________________ (dipole) - one part slightly negative(δ-) and the
other slightly positive (δ+)
This polarity is particularly common if the bond involves one or more hydrogen
atoms.
POLAR VS NON-POLAR
➤ Molecules that form covalent bonding (share electrons) can
sometimes express a slightly _________________ (δ+)or
slightly ______________ (δ-) nature
➤ The molecule that they form is called __________________ and
when it comes in contact with ionised or other polarised
molecules the positively charged side (δ+) can attract the
negatively charged side (δ-) of the other molecule
➤ Some molecules that form covalent bonds do not express any
positive or negative nature making them neutral or non-polar
➤ https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=PoQjsnQmxok&ab_channel=ProfessorDaveExplains
THE IMPORTANCE OF INORGANIC IONS
➤ When ionic substances dissolve in water, the ions separate in
a process called ___________________________- breaking apart
the bonds of molecules
➤ Cells are 60-70% water, so in living organisms most ionic
substances exist as positive and negative ions.
➤ Many of these ions play specialised roles in individual cells
and in the functioning of entire organisms.
➤ https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=TxHi5FtMYKk&ab_channel=FuseSchool-GlobalEducation
IMPORTANT ANIONS
➤ _____________________ (NO3-) — these are needed in plants
to make DNA and also amino acids and, therefore, proteins
from the products of photosynthesis
➤ ______________________ (PO43-) — these are needed in all
living organisms to make ATP and ADP as well as DNA and
RNA
➤ ______________________ (C1-) — these are needed in nerve
impulses, sweating and many secretory systems in animals
➤ _______________________ (HCO3-) — these are needed to
buffer blood pH to prevent it becoming too acidic
IMPORTANT CATIONS
➤ _________________ (Na+) — these are needed in nerve
impulses, sweating and many secretory systems in animals
➤ _________________ (Ca2+) — these are needed for the
formation of calcium pectate for the middle lamella between
two cell walls in plants, and for bone formation and muscle
contraction in animals
➤ _________________ (H+) — these are needed in cellular
respiration and photosynthesis, and in numerous pumps and
systems as well as pH balance
➤ _________________ (Mg2+) — these are needed for production
of chlorophyll in plants
THE CHEMISTRY OF WATER
➤ All reactions in living cells take place in
__________________.
➤ Without water, substances could not move
around the body.
➤ Water is also a major habitat — it supports
more life than any other part of the planet.
➤ The simple chemical formula of water is
_______________________.
➤ This tells us that two atoms of hydrogen are
joined to one atom of oxygen to make up
each water molecule.
➤ However, because the electrons are held
closer to the oxygen atom than to the
hydrogen atoms, water is a polar molecule
THE CHEMISTRY OF WATER
➤ One major effect of this polarity is that water molecules form _______________________.
➤ The slightly negative oxygen atom of one water molecule will attract the slightly positive
hydrogen atoms of other water molecules in a weak electrostatic attraction called a
hydrogen bond.
➤ Each individual hydrogen bond is weak but there are many of them so the molecules of
water 'stick together' more than you might expect
➤ Water has relatively high melting and boiling points compared with other substances
that have molecules of a similar size because it takes a lot of energy to break all the
hydrogen bonds that hold the molecules together.
THE IMPORTANCE OF WATER
Water is a __________________________- it is a polar molecule, many ionic
substances like sodium chloride will dissolve in it
Many covalently bonded substances are also polar and will dissolve in
water, but often do not dissolve in other covalently bonded solvents such
as ethanol.
Water also carries other substances, such as starch. As a result, most of
the chemical reactions within cells occur in water (in aqueous solution).
THE IMPORTANCE OF WATER
Water is an excellent transport medium because the dipole
nature of water enables many different substances to dissolve in
it
THE IMPORTANCE OF WATER
As water cools to 4 °C, it reaches its
maximum density.
As it cools further, the molecules become
more widely spaced.
As a result, ice is less dense than water
and floats, forming an
________________________________ and
helping to prevent the water underneath it
from freezing.
It also melts quickly because, being at the
top, it is exposed to the sun.
It is very unusual for the solid form of a
substance to be less dense than the liquid
form.
This unusual property enables organisms
to live in water, even in countries where it
gets cold enough to freeze in winter.
THE IMPORTANCE OF WATER
Water is slow to absorb and release __________ — it has a high specific heat capacity.
This means the temperature of large bodies of water such as lakes and seas does not
change much throughout the year.
This makes them good habitats for living organisms.
THE IMPORTANCE OF WATER
Water is a _______________ — it cannot be compressed.
This is an important factor in many hydraulic mechanisms in
living organisms.
It can fit in any ‘container’
THE IMPORTANCE OF WATER
Water molecules are _____________________ — the forces
between the molecules mean they stick together.
This is very important for the movement of water from the
roots to the leaves of plants
THE IMPORTANCE OF WATER
Water molecules are
____________ —
they are attracted to
other different
molecules.
This is also
important in plant
transport systems
and in surface
tension.
THE IMPORTANCE OF WATER
Water has a very
__________________________________
________________ because the
attraction between the water
molecules, including hydrogen bonds,
is greater than the attraction between
the water molecules and the air.
As a result, the water molecules hold
together forming a thin 'skin' of
surface tension.
That’s why round droplets of water
are formed, water molecules on the
edge are pulled towards the middle
Surface tension is very important in
plant transport systems, and also
affects life at the surface of ponds,
lakes and other water masses
RECAP
➤ Anion -a negative ion
➤ Cation -a positive ion
➤ Ionic bonds -bonds formed when atoms give or receive electrons; they result
in charged particles called ions
➤ Covalent bonds -bonds formed when atoms share electrons; covalent
molecules may be polar if the electrons are not shared equally
➤ Dipole - the separation of charge in a molecule when the electrons in covalent
bonds are not evenly shared
➤ Polar molecule -a molecule containing a dipole
➤ Dissociation -splitting of a molecule into smaller molecules, atoms, or ions,
especially by a reversible process
➤ Hydrogen bonds - weak electrostatic intermolecular bonds formed between
polar molecules containing at least one hydrogen atom
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