Bio-

chemistry
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MODULE 1
SESSION 1

 CHEMISTRY- a branch of science which deals with the study of the composition and properties
of matter and the study of compounds, chemical changes and reactions occurring in living system
a) The changes it undergoes
b) The energy accompanying the changes
c) The laws and principles governing such changes

GENERAL AND ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - study of elements in the periodic table and an overview of
chemistry in General.

ORGANIC CHEMISTRY-study of carbon containing compounds

Example: carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, nucleic acids, hormones, enzymes, vitamins, minerals, sugar,
starch, cellulose, and oil.

BIOCHEMISTRY OR BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY -Defined as the science of the chemical basis of life

 From “BIO” means life

MOLECULAR BIOCHEMISTRY-concerned with the study of macromolecules and their metabolic activities
in the body. It includes the entrance in the human body, digestion, absorption, assimilation, utilization,
integration into the tissues, metabolic degradation and eventually, excretion from the body.

2 ASPECTS OF BIOCHEMISTRY:

MOLECULAR ANATOMY-different biomolecules which comprise the cell

Examples: Carbohydrates (CHO), Proteins (CHON), Lipids, Nucleic acid, Enzymes, Hormones, Vitamins,

Minerals

MOLECULAR PHYSIOLOGY- dynamic part of biochemistry which includes function

and metabolic activities of biomolecules in the cell.

Examples:

A.Digestion
 Physical-mechanical breakdown
 Chemical-further breakdown with the aid of enzymes
B. Absorption-passage of end products of digestion from the small intestine into the blood
C. Assimilation-selective absorption
D. Utilization -cell is the important unit of life. Hence a large number of chemical reactions in the cell
utilize the nutrients absorbed to produce materials needed for our existence
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E. Integration-refers to the overlap of many functions of the systems of the human body, as well as its
accompanied form
F. 1. Metabolic degradation-conversion of a substance into an active metabolite
F. 2. Biotransformation-conversion of a substance to another for biosynthesis
G. Excretion
pH and BUFFERS
A. DISSOCIATION
 a process by which a polar compound (contains (+) and (-) ions) is broken apart into its individual
ionic components when placed in an aqueous solution.
 occurs in the presence of water.
EXAMPLE:
POLAR: Occurs when there is an electronegativity difference between atoms.
NaCl(s) Na+(aq) + Cl-(aq)
NON-POLAR: Occurs when electrons are shared equal between atoms or when Polar bonds in a larger
molecule cancel out each other.
C12H22011
B. ELECTROLYTES
STRONG ELECTROLYTE: -lionize completely when dissolved in water where ions conduct
electricity.

WEAK ELECTROLYTE: - It partially ionize in solution. Solutions of weak electrolytes do not conduct
electricity because of the limited number of ions.

NON-ELECTROLYTES: - It does not ionize in water but still dissolve quite well because it is highly
polar

IONIZATION OF STRONG ELECTROLYTES

H₂O 100%ions
Salts NaCl(s) Na (aq)+ Cl(aq)
H₂O
CaBr₂(s) I Ca2+(aq) + 2Br (aq)
H₂O
Acids HCl(g) H₂O (aq) + Cl(aq)
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H₂O
Bases NaOH(s) Na (aq) + OH(aq)

IONIZATION OF WEAK ELECTROLYTES

IRREVERSIBLE REACTION - A reaction which goes to complete

REVERSIBLE REACTION - Products can react to form back the reactants

Reversible and Irreversible Changes

N₂+3H₂ 2NH Exothermic (gives out heat energy)

N₂+ 3H₂ 2NH Endothermic (takes in heat energy)

Exothermic
N₂+ 3H2 2NH
Endothermic

CHEMICAL EQUILIBRIUM

2 opposing reactions proceed at the same rate

Rf-PRODUCTS are formed

Rb-REACTANTS are formed

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Rf=Rb
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MODULE 2
SESSION 2
pH & Buffers

IONIZATION OF WATER - Water is considered as weak electrolyte. It is both amphoteric and amphiprotic.

Amphoteric - can react both as an acid and as a base

Amphiprotic- can both accept and donate a proton or H

IONIZATION CONSTANT OF WATER

Kw

Kw - Ionization Constant for Water

In pure water at 25 °C:

Kw is a constant at 25 °C:

pH
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pH Expressions

 FORMS:
 pH = -log [H₂O+] OR log
 pOH = -log [OH-]
 pkw = -log Kw
 pkw = pKa + pkb
 pkw= pH+ pOH
 14 pH+ pOH
 pKa = -log Ka; ionization constant of weak acid
 pkb= -log Kb; ionization constant of weak base
 [H,O] = antilog-pH
 [OH-] antilog - pOH

pH and pOH

FORMULA:

pH = -log [H30+]
pOH = -log [OH-]
14 = pH + pOH

EXAMPLE\ COMPUTATION

0.0951M Acetic Acid

pH POH

pH = -log[H3O+] 14= = pH + pOH

pH = -log (0.0951) pOH = 141.02
pH = 1.02 pOH = 12.08

0.00035M NaOH

pH POH

14 = pH + pOH pOH = -log [OH-]

pH = 14 - 3.46 pOH = -log(0.00035)
pH = 10.54 pOH = 3.46
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Calculate the pH of a solution if the [OH-] concentration is 0.015M

pH POH

14 = pH + pOH pOH = -log [OH-]

pH = 14-1.82 pOH = -log(0.015)

pH = 12.18 pOH = 1.82

2.06719 M Sulfuric Acid

pH POH

pH = -log [H3O] 14 =pH + pOH

pH= -log (2.06719)

pH= -0.32 14.32

ACID AND BASE

Theory Acid Definition Base Definition

Arrhenius Theory Any substance which releases Any substance which releases
H+ ions in water solution. OH- ions in water solution

Brønsted- Lowry Theory Any substance which donates a Any substance which accepts a
proton (H+). proton (H+).

Lewis Theory Any substance which can accept Any substance which can
an electron pair. donate an electron pair

CONJUGATES

CONJUGATE ACID - Proton hydrogen DONOR, formed when it COMBINES with hydrogen.

CONJUGATE BASE - Anion produced from the DISSOCIATION of acid; REMOVAL of hydrogen.

HENDERSON - HASSELBACH EQAUTION

pH = pKa + log conjugate base

weak acid
What would be the pH of a 100mL solution containing 0.15M formic acid (HCHO2; Ka = 1.8X104) and
0.15M sodium formate (NaCHO2)?

Convert Ka to pKa pH = pKa + log (conjugate base/ acid)

pka -logKa
pKa = -log 1.8X104
pKa = 3.74 pH = 3.74 + log (0.15/0.15)
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pH = 3.74