ANPH 1001 CHAPTER 2: Chemistry of Life

Electron donors elements or molecules furnishing electrons during reaction

Electron acceptors gains electrons during the process

Electron carriers special molecules that gains electron but loses to other molecule
in a very short time.

Energy ability to do work

ATP adenosine triphosphate; high molecule energy that the cell needs
to function (allows cells to repair, maintain, reproduce). Needs to
be created and broken down to do cell’s work ATP- ADP + PO4

10 common substances water, carbon dioxide gas, oxygen, ammonia, minerals

In living cells carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, nucleic acids and ATP

Water most abundant substance in living cells 60% to 80%, plasma the
liquid portion of the blood is 91%.
Also refers as the universal solvent.
Absorbs and releases heat, thus helping control body temperature
Excess heat is being absorb by water in the cell then, released.
Also a part if amniotic fluid in a developing fetus
Part of cerebrospinal fluid and functions as shock absorber in the
brain and spinal cord
Base for all body lubricant as mucus in digestive tract and synovial
fluids in joints

Carbon Dioxide it is produced as waste product of cell respiration

Necessary for photosynthesis in plant cells and convert into
radiant energy.

Molecular Oxygen product of photosynthesis

Necessary to convert chemical energy such as glucose into
another form of chemical energy, ATP, that use by the cells to do
work

Ammonia NH3 comes from the decomposition of protein via digestive process
Is the conversion of ammino acids in cellular respiration to ATP
molecules. Nitrogen its essential molecule

Mineral Salts/ composed of small ions

Electrolytes Calcium Ca+ necessary for muscle contraction and building strong
bones
Na+, K+ necessary for muscle contraction and nervous
transmission
Cl- Chloride necessary for nervous transmission
PO4 Phosphate necessary to produce ATP

Carbohydrates made up of Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen 1:2:1

Functions as energy storage, energy production and
cell strengthening
e.g. glucose or C6H12O6
six-carbon sugars GLUCOSE and FRUCTOSE
five-carbon sugars RIBOSE and DEOXYRIBOSE
GLYCOGEN – animal starch

Lipids substances that are insoluble in water

Fats act as insulator to prevent heat loss
Saturated fatty acid contains only single covalent bond such as
milk, butter, beef, pork
Unsaturated fatty acid contains one or more double covalent
bond. Such as fish oil, sunflower, corn
95% fats in human are triglycerides , now called triacylglycerols
which have two types of building blocks glycerol and fatty acids
Fats protects kidney from severe jolts and protect its internal
organs from excessive rises in temperature

Proteins covalently bonded carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen

20 amino acids are the building blocks of protein
Discussed also in terms of structures such as primary (amino acid,
secondary (hydrogen bonds), tertiary structures (peptide bonds),
quaternary structure (determined by spatial relationships
between individual units)
Enables human to talk, move, breath, digest and circulate blood
Allows cells to function properly
Formed antigen to combat foreign proteins
Source of energy that can be broken down and converted to ATP

Enzymes protein catalysts which increase the rate of chemical reaction

without being affected by the reaction

Nucleic Acids very large molecules made of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen,
phosphorous atoms
2 important nucleic acid found in the cells are DNA and RNA
DNA deoxyribonucleic Acid (double helix)
Genetic material of cell located in the nucleus
Determines the functions of the cell

RNA Ribonucleic Acid (single chain of nucleotides)

2 important types of RNA: messenger RNA and transfer RNA
important molecules necessary for protein synthesis

Nucleotides basic structure of nucleic acid

Purine consist of fused double ring of 9 nine atoms

Nitrogen bases are adenine and guanine

Pyrimidines consists of single ring of 6 six atoms

Nitrogen bases are thymine, cytosine, uracil

Diffusion movement of molecules through a medium from high

concentration of those molecules to low concentration of those
molecules. Example perfume (Brownian Movement – random
collisions of diffusing molecules)
Example: the exchange of carbon dioxide from blood (low
concentration) to the lungs (high concentration) – vice versa

Osmosis pertains only to the movement of water molecules through a

selectively permeable membrane from an area of high
concentration of water molecules to an area of low concentration
of water molecules
Example salt solution in the (covered) flask with distilled water in
the beaker
Ex: Hypertonic and Hypotonic in the blood cell

Active transport transportation of materials against the concentration gradient

(from low to high like food vacuole)

Acid if substance dissociates and forms excess of H+ ions when

dissolved in water
Has a pH value below 7
If pH is high it changes the protein thus it won’t function well

Base a substance that combines with H+ ions when dissolved in water

Has a pH value above 7
Buffer substance that acts as a reservoir for hydrogen ions, donating
them when the concentration falls and taking the hydrogen when
concentration rises.