Activity 3

Name: Joyce Anne C. Sevilla Course/Year/Section: BS BIOLOGY 1A

1. Difference between ELEMENT and COMPOUND

An element is a pure chemical substance made of same type of atom. It

contain only one type of atom. Each atom has the same atomic number, the

same number of protons in their nucleus. Elements cannot be broken down into

simpler substances by chemical reactions. While a compound contains atoms

of different elements chemically combined together in a fixed ratio. They

contain only one type of molecule. Elements that compose the compound are

chemically combined. A compound can be separated into simpler substances

by chemical methods/reactions.

Difference between ATOM and MOLECULE

An atom is a smallest particle of an element. It consists of nucleus (containing

protons and neutrons) and electrons. Atom can neither be seen through naked

eye nor through magnifying microscope, it cannot be further divided. It has

nuclear bond or attraction within it, it involves electrostatic attraction between

the positive nucleus and electrons. While a molecule is a group of two or more
atoms combined together, it consists of combination of two or more same or

different atoms chemically bound together. It is not visible to naked eye, while

can be seen through highly magnifying microscope. It can further be divided to

give individual atoms, it has chemical attraction or bonding between the atoms

i.e. it involves single, double or triple bonds between the atoms.

Difference between ATOM and ION

An atom is considered the smallest unit of a matter, It cannot exist

independently in a solution. Atoms together generate molecules, The number of

electrons and protons is the same. An ion It exists in the form of a single

particle or a group of particles, it can exist independently in a solution. An

electrovalent bond is formed between ions, electrons and protons are unequal

in number and hence the ions are unstable.

Difference between CATION and ANION

A cation refers to an atom or a group of atoms that bear one or multiple

positive electric charges, it has either one positive charge or multiple positive

charges. The formation of cations takes place from the metal atoms, an

example of cation is Silver: (Ag+). While an anion refers to an atom or a group

of atoms that bear one or multiple electric charges, has either one negative

charge or multiple negative charges. There is a formation of anions from the

non-metal atoms, an example of an anion is Hydroxide anion: (OH-).

 Activity 3
2. What is the pH scale?
The pH scale is an inverse logarithm and ranges from 0 to 14 . Anything below

7.0 (ranging from 0.0 to 6.9) is acidic, and anything above 7.0 (from 7.1 to 14.0)

is alkaline. Extremes in pH in either direction from 7.0 are usually considered

inhospitable to life. The pH inside cells (6.8) and the pH in the blood (7.4) are

both very close to neutral. The pH is important because substances such as our

stomach acids tend to be at a certain pH in order to work properly, pH is also

important because it must be at certain levels in order for living organisms to

survive.

3. Discuss the properties of water, and explain the importance of water to life
specifically in plants.
Hydrogen bonding means water is a liquid at temperatures common for plant

growth and has high cohesive (tensile) strength. Water is polar and a good

solvent for charged or polar solutes. Hydrogen bonding means water is a liquid

at temperatures common for plant growth and has high cohesive (tensile)

strength. Discussion of the properties of water that make it essential to life as

we know it:polarity, "universal" solvent, high heat capacity, high heat of

vaporization, cohesion, adhesion and lower density when frozen. The
importance of water to life specifically in plants is that water helps plants by

transporting important nutrients through the plant. Nutrients are drawn from the

soil and used by the plant. Without enough water in the cells, the plant will

droop, so water helps a plant to stand upright. Water carries dissolved sugar

and other nutrients through the plant.

4. What are enzymes? Why are they essential to plants and other
organisms?
An enzyme is a biological catalyst and is almost always a protein. It speeds up
the rate of a specific chemical reaction in the cell. The enzyme is not destroyed

during the reaction and is used over and over. A cell contains thousands of

different types of enzyme molecules, each specific to a particular chemical

reaction. Enzymes are essential to plants and other organisms because

enzymes are critical components to support plant growth because most of the

organic material in soils and soilless media are too big and insoluble for plants

to take up. Enzymes allow reactions to occur at the rate necessary for life. In

animals, an important function of enzymes is to help digest food. Digestive

enzymes speedup reactions that break down large molecules of carbohydrates,

proteins, and fats into smaller molecules the body can use.
 Activity 3
5. State the first and second laws of thermodynamics and describe
how each applies to plants and other organisms.
The first law, also known as Law of Conservation of Energy, states that

energy cannot be created or destroyed in an isolated system. It applies to

plants by converting the energy of sunlight into the chemical energy stored

within organic molecules. Photosynthesis converts light energy (a form of

kinetic energy) into chemical energy. This process allows plant and animal

organisms to access the energy stored in carbohydrates, lipids, and other

macromolecules through the production of ATP.

The second law of thermodynamics states that the entropy of any isolated

system always increases. In plants, the process of photosynthesis, not all of

the incident sunlight is absorbed by the plant. Some energy is reflected

and some are lost as heat. The loss of energy to the surrounding

environment results in an increase of disorder or entropy. They must

consume plants or other animal organisms for energy. The higher up an

organism is on the food chain, the less available energy it receives from its

food sources. Essentially, living things are in a continuous uphill battle

against this constant increase in universal entropy.

6. What are the uses of plant's cellulose in the industry?

Cellulose is synthesized simultaneously with the extension of the microfibril

network, which is dominant in some bacteria and lower plants to form the

primary wall, but cellulose is deposited mainly within the secondary wall of

higher plants for strength. The main sources of cellulose for industrial

processes are wood and cotton. Cellulose is the main component of paper,

cardboard, and textiles made of cotton, flax, or other plant fibers. It is also

used for the production of fibers, films, and cellulose derivatives. Cellulose is

mainly useful in paperboard and paper production. Its smaller amounts are

converted into its derivatives like cellophane and rayon. It is useful as a fiber

supplement in our diet. Also, it helps as an additive in various food items.

 Activity 3
7. Choose at least five (5) plant secondary metabolites (which are
not yet elaborated in this module) and give their importance.
Terpenoids- This plant contains many medicinal properties like
anticancer, antimicrobial, antifungal, antiviral, antihyperglycemic,
analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and ant parasitic. Terpene is also used to
enhance skin penetration, prevent inflammatory diseases.

Alkaloids- Alkaloids are useful as diet ingredients, supplements, and

pharmaceuticals, in medicine and in other applications in human life.

Alkaloids are also important compounds in organic synthesis for searching

new semisynthetic and synthetic compounds with possibly better biological

activity than parent compounds.

Polyketides- Many polyketides are clinically important, with antimicrobial,

anticancer and immunosuppressive properties. Moreover, they are
important in the producing organisms, facilitating competition for

substrates and communication between organisms.

Non Ribosomal Polypeptides- Non ribosomal peptides are products that

fall into the class of secondary metabolites with a diverse properties as

toxins, siderophores, pigments, or antibiotics, among others. Non-ribosomal

peptide synthetases (NRPSs) are multi-modular enzymes which catalyze

the synthesis of highly diverse natural products of bacterial or fungal
origin, referred to as non-ribosomal peptides (NRPs).

Enzyme Cofactors- A cofactor is a non-protein chemical compound that

is required for the protein's biological activity. Many enzymes require

cofactors to function properly. Cofactors can be considered "helper

molecules" that assist enzymes in their action. Cofactors can be ions or

organic molecules (called coenzymes).

 Activity 3
REFLECTION

In your opinion, what do you think is the most important organic

compound/ primary metabolite in a plant? Why?

In my opinion, the most important organic compound would be Cellulose, the

main structural component of the plant cell wall, makes up over thirty percent

of plant matter. It is the most abundant organic compound on earth. Plants are

able to make their own cellulose, but need carbon from the soil to do so.

When it comes to primary metabolite, the most important would be the primary

metabolites itself, everything that is included as a primary metabolite is

important because primary metabolites prominently functions growth,

development and reproduction of cell. Primary metabolites perform their

function as molecules signaling to trigger defense response. We have highlight

the new trends in utilizing primary metabolites for controlling bacterial, viral

and fungal pathogens and insects.