Basic Chemistry of Life Atoms and Elements

HUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY  All matter is composed of elements

TOPIC OUTLINE: ELEMENT
• Concepts of Matter and Energy  Elements are substances that cannot be simpler
substances by ordinary chemical methods broken down
• Molecules and Compounds into
• Biochemistry
 Four elements make up 96% of body:
CHAPTER OBJECTIVES: 1. Carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, and nitrogen
• Differentiate matter and energy 2. 9 elements make up 3.9% of body
• Define molecule, and explain how molecules are related to 3. 11 elements make up <0.01%
compounds
• Distinguish organic and inorganic compounds
 Periodic table lists all known elements
CHEMISTRY CAN BE BROKEN DOWN INTO TWO:

Basic Chemistry

MATTER
 Matter is anything that has mass and occupies space
 Matter can be seen, smelled, and/or felt
 Weight is mass plus the effects of gravity
 all elements are made up of atoms
3 States of Matter: ATOM
 Unique building blocks for each
1. SOLID element
 Definite shape and  Smallest particles of an
volume element with properties of
that element
 What give each element its
2. LIQUID particular physical & chemical
 changeable shape; properties
definite volume He- Helium
Protons
Carry a positive charge (+)
3. GAS
 changeable shape and Neutrons
volume Have no electrical charge (0)
Electrons
Carry a negative charge (-)
ENERGY
 Energy is the capacity to do work or put matter into
motion
 Energy does not have mass, nor does it take up space
 The greater the work done, the more energy it uses up Molecules and Compounds
Types of Energy:  Most atoms chemically combine with other atoms to form
molecules and compounds
POTENTIAL ENERGY
 Stored (inactive) energy MOLECULES- General term for 2 or more atoms bonded together
COMPOUNDS- Specific molecule that has 2 or more different kinds
of atoms bonded together

KINETIC ENERGY Example: C6H12O6 Molecules with only one type

 energy in action (glucose) of atom (H2 or O2 ) are just
called moleculeS
 Biochemistry ACID AND BASE
BIOCHEMISTRY is the study of chemical composition and reactions
of living matter 3. ACIDS
 Are proton donors: they release hydrogen ions (H+), bare
INORGANIC COMPOUNDS ORGANIC COMPOUNDS  protons (have no electrons) in solution
 Water, salts, and many  Carbohydrates, fats,  Example: HCl → H+ + Cl–
acids and bases proteins, and nucleic acids
 Do not contain carbon  Contain carbon, are usually  Important acids
large, and are covalently  HCl (hydrochloric acid), HC2H3O2 (acetic acid,
bonded abbreviated HAc), and H2CO3 (carbonic acid)

4. BASES
Inorganic Compounds  Are proton acceptors: they pick up H+ ions in solution
 Example: NaOH → Na+ + OH–
1. WATER  When a base dissolves in solution, it releases a hydroxyl ion
 Most abundant inorganic compound (OH–)
 Accounts for 60%–80% of the volume of living cells  Important bases
Properties of water:  Bicarbonate ion (HCO3–) and ammonia (NH3)

a. High heat capacity

 Ability to absorb and release heat with little temperature
change pH scale is measurement of
 Prevents sudden changes in temperature concentration of hydrogen ions
[H+] in a solution
b. High heat of vaporization  Acidic pH range is
 Evaporation requires large amounts of heat 0–6.99
 Useful cooling mechanism  Alkaline pH range
c. Polar solvent properties is 7.01–14
 Dissolves and dissociates ionic substances  All neutral
 Forms hydration (water) layers around large charged solutions are pH 7
molecules
 Body’s major transport mediumMarieb, Elaine Nicpon;
Keller,
d. Reactivity
 Necessary part of hydrolysis and dehydration synthesis
reactions Organic Compounds
e. Cushioning
Protects certain organs from physical trauma
Example: cerebrospinal fluid cushions nervous system organs  Organic molecules contain carbon
Exceptions: CO2 and CO, which are inorganic
 Major organic compounds: carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and
2. SALT nucleic acids
 It is a product when an acid and a base neutralize each other  Many are polymers
Chains of similar units called monomers (building blocks)
 Common salts in body  Synthesized by dehydration synthesis
 NaCl, CaCO3, KCl, calcium phosphates  Broken down by hydrolysis reactions
 All ions are called electrolytes because they can conduct
electrical currents in solution
 Ions play specialized roles in body functions
 Ionic balance is vital for homeostasis
 1. CARBOHYDRATES
 include sugars and starches
 Main source of energy
 Contain C, H, and O
 Hydrogen and oxygen
are in 2:1 ratio
MONOSACCHARIDES DISACCHARIDES POLYSACCHARIDES
 one single sugar  Two sugars  many sugars
 Monomers:  Formed by  Formed by
smallest unit of dehydration dehydration
carbohydrate synthesis of two synthesis of
monosaccharides many monomers

3. PROTEINS
 Comprise 20–30% of cell mass ()
 Have most varied functions of any
molecules
 Structural,chemical
(enzymes),contraction (muscles)
 Contain C, H, O, N, and sometimes S
and P
 Polymers of amino acid monomers
held together by peptide bonds

Structural levels:
2. LIPIDS PRIMARY SECONDARY TERTIARY QUARTERNARY
 Storage of energy and for cushioning 1. Primary: linear sequence of amino acids (order)
 Contain C, H, O, but less than in carbohydrates, and sometimes
contain P 2. Secondary: how primary amino acids interact with each other
 Insoluble in water 3. Tertiary: how secondary structures interact
Triglycerides or neutral fats Phospholipids 4. Quaternary: how 2 or more different polypeptides interact with
 Called fats when solid and  Glycerol and two fatty each other
oils when liquid acids plus a phosphorus-
 Composed of three fatty containing group
acids bonded to a glycerol  Important in cell membrane
molecule structure

Steroids Disaccharides
 Consist of four interlocking  Derived from a fatty acid
ring structures (arachidonic acid) found in
 Commonsteroids:cholesterol, cell membranes
vitamin D, steroid  Most important eicosanoids
hormones, and bile salts are prostaglandins
 4. NUCLEIC ACID
 Contains the genetic information
 Protein synthesis
 composed of C, H, O, N, and P, are the largest molecules in the
body
 Nucleic acid polymers are made up of monomers called
nucleotides

Deoxyribonucleic acid Ribonucleic acid

 holds the genetic blueprint  links DNA to protein
for the synthesis of all synthesis and is slightly
protein different from DNA
 Double-stranded helical  Single-stranded linear
molecule (double helix) molecule is active mostly
Types of Proteins based on Shape: located in cell nucleus outside nucleus
FIBROUS (STRUCTURAL)
 Strandlike, water-insoluble,
and stable
Provide mechanical support and
tensile strength
Examples: keratin, elastin,
collagen (single most
abundant protein in body),
and certain contractile
fibers

GLOBULAR (FUNCTIONAL)
 Compact, spherical,
water soluble, and
sensitive to environmental
changes
 Specific functional regions
(active sites)
 Examples: antibodies,
hormones, molecular
chaperones, and enzymes
DNA
Nucleotides contain a deoxyribose sugar, phosphate group, and one of
four nitrogen bases:
ENZYMES-Globular proteins that act as biological catalysts  Purines: adenine (A), guanine (G)
 Pyrimidines: cytosine (C) and thymine (T)
1. Lower the energy needed to initiate a chemical reaction
 Leads to an increase in the speed of a reaction Bonding of nitrogen base from strand to opposite strand is very
 Allows for millions of reactions per minute! specific
 Follows complementary base-pairing rules:
2. Enzymes are specific A always pairs with T
 Act on a very specific substrate G always pairs with C
RNA
3. Names usually end in –ase and are often named for the reaction Contains a ribose sugar (not deoxyribose)
they catalyze Thymine is replaced with uracil
 Example: hydrolases, oxidases
Three varieties of RNA carry out the DNA orders for protein synthesis
 Messenger RNA (mRNA), transfer RNA (tRNA), and
ribosomal RNA (rRNA)

REFERENCES:
Marieb, Elaine Nicpon; Keller, Suzanne M. (2018) Essentials of
Human Anatomy and Physiology 12th Edition Pearson Education
Inc., 300 Hudson Street, NY NY 10013