Unit 1: CHEMICALS OF LIFE

Ms Indika Upuli Hettiarachchi

Lecturer SCN1207 Life Science
M.Phil in Zoology (University of Sri Jayewardenepura)
M.Sc. in Polymer Technology (University of Moratuwa)
B.Sc.(Hons.)Chemistry (University of Sri Jayewardenepura)
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N
H

C
O
Living organisms…made of a limited elements…(25, 50)

Above atoms make up chemical compounds

Biomolecules: organic/inorganic
Organics-carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, DNA
Inorganics-water, oxygen & other gases, acids, salts, bases
.
Living cells contain (water, oxygen, nutrients, waste)

The most abundant molecule in human body …………….

.

glycogen
carbohydrates

nucleic acids
.

Digestion & use of carbohydrate

Carbohydrates
Starch & sugars
Transport form of carbohydrates in animal body ………………….

Transport form of carbohydrates in plants ………………….

Plants use up glucose in aerobic ……………………….

But they transport ………………………

Cells change sucrose to g……………..when they need it.

Plants store starch & they can change it to glucose.

Some plants store large quantities of ………………… in seeds or tubers.

Animals store small quantities of g……………… in liver/muscle cells.

Tubers???
Glucose molecule showing ring structure
Chemical formula?
 Label the given compound…

Sucrose is a ………………………………………
 Single sugars

Double sugar Starch…a polymer

Fruit sugar is ………………………..
Galactose has no …………………… taste, is the only sugar
absent in p…………………….

Malt sugar ………………………..

• Many processed foods contain high added sugar.
cakes, biscuits, sweets, cola drinks, baked beans
• A typical can of cola can contain
up to 7 teaspoons of added sugar
(27 g).
• A tin of baked beans contains
(10 g / 20 g) of added sugar.
Starch: The staple diets of many countries are starchy foods.
e.g. rice, potato, pasta, millet, wheat
Functions of carbohydrates
• Rapid energy release
• Stored in organisms (e.g. ………………..)
• Excess stored as fat under the skin
Lipids
Fats & Oils
Animal fat-cod liver oil, waxes Oils-herbal oil

Meat, butter, cheese, milk, eggs, oily fish

Foods fried in animal fat
Vegetable oils & margarine
 No. of
fatty acid molecules….
glycerol molecules….

Beef & lamb contain a fat tristearin C51H98O6 a solid at RT but melts on warm-up

Glycerol (or glycerine)-oily liquid, used in cosmetics

Functions of lipids
Functions of lipids

• Slow release of …………………. but in large amounts

• For storage

• Conservation of w……………..

• Insulation

• Protect internal o……………….

• Make the cell m………………….

• Walruses often have thick
adipose tissues-blubber

• Plants store oils in seeds

(peanuts, coconut seeds)

Function: provide
……………………. for
germination
The structure of a typical amino acid

R- a group of ……………………………….
Some amino acids cannot be synthesized by human body, are called
………………………………..

Change R- forms 20 amino acids, make organisms

Long chains of aa s curl up into different shapes
3-D shape of a protein molecule depends on the sequence of aa s in the
chain
Functions of proteins
• Make structures (cell membrane), enzymes, antibodies, hormones, haemoglobin
• Repair damaged cells
• Energy source
Ossein
Functions-nucleic acids
Store genetic info
Transfer genes from generation to generation

Important in protein synthesis

Control cell activities

RNA store genetic info of some viruses

Variation in DNA occurs, are important in the evolution
DNA molecule…2 strands held
together by cross links
The 2 strands twist together
spirally- double helix
Bases pair up as A/T, G/C
Gene-a part of a DNA molecule
(specific sequence of bases)
that codes for a protein
DNA decides the kinds of
proteins to be made
For levels of reducing sugar no
Yellow brown
Assignment 1
Positive result
(1 / 2) layers
Top layer is orange red

Negative result
One layer
Colour is evenly distributed
……………………………………………………………
in the food
Why is the Benedict’s solution blue?

How do you control the temperature in carrying out the

Benedict’s test?

Which precautions would you take in the Benedict’s test?

Positive results of the Benedict’s test

Compare the results to give a good

conclusion.
How many molecules that make up a fat
molecule?
Mention the above test
A nucleotide is made of 3 components.

1.
2.
3.