chemistry of life
o atom
[smallest unit of matter (living and non-living) that can take part in a chemical reaction]
o molecule
[two or more atoms that combine chemically]
o element
[pure substance, not made up of other simpler substances]
o compound
[pure substance made up of simpler substances (elements)]
[two or more elements that are chemically combined]
CELLS, TISSUES AND ORGANS
seven basic characteristics
- movement
- respiration
- sensitivity
- growth
- reproduction
- excretion
- nutrition
o cell
smallest unit of life that contains cellular inclusions, known as organelles
o tissue
a group of similarly differentiated cells that perform a common function
o organ
a group of different tissues, each of which perform its own function, but together
performs a common function
, molecules for life
chemical compounds are divided into:
inorganic compounds
- chemical compounds that don’t contain carbon and aren’t produced by living
organisms
- water, gases, mineral salts
- exceptions: carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, carbonates
[contain carbon but don’t have carbon-hydrogen bonds]
organic compounds
- chemical compounds containing carbon and are produced by living organisms
- composed of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen
- some contain nitrogen, phosphorus, sulphur
- carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, nucleic acids, vitamins (building blocks of cells)
INORGANIC COMPOUNDS
o water
most important inorganic compound
functions
- solvent
solvent for both organic and inorganic compounds
mineral salts in soil dissolve in water so that roots can absorb them
oxygen and carbon dioxide must be dissolved before they can enter / leave cells
metabolic waste is also dissolved in water
- medium in which chemical reactions occur
all chemical reactions in living organisms occur in water
- reagent during hydrolysis
water breaks polymers (macro-molecules) down to monomers (building blocks)
o atom
[smallest unit of matter (living and non-living) that can take part in a chemical reaction]
o molecule
[two or more atoms that combine chemically]
o element
[pure substance, not made up of other simpler substances]
o compound
[pure substance made up of simpler substances (elements)]
[two or more elements that are chemically combined]
CELLS, TISSUES AND ORGANS
seven basic characteristics
- movement
- respiration
- sensitivity
- growth
- reproduction
- excretion
- nutrition
o cell
smallest unit of life that contains cellular inclusions, known as organelles
o tissue
a group of similarly differentiated cells that perform a common function
o organ
a group of different tissues, each of which perform its own function, but together
performs a common function
, molecules for life
chemical compounds are divided into:
inorganic compounds
- chemical compounds that don’t contain carbon and aren’t produced by living
organisms
- water, gases, mineral salts
- exceptions: carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, carbonates
[contain carbon but don’t have carbon-hydrogen bonds]
organic compounds
- chemical compounds containing carbon and are produced by living organisms
- composed of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen
- some contain nitrogen, phosphorus, sulphur
- carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, nucleic acids, vitamins (building blocks of cells)
INORGANIC COMPOUNDS
o water
most important inorganic compound
functions
- solvent
solvent for both organic and inorganic compounds
mineral salts in soil dissolve in water so that roots can absorb them
oxygen and carbon dioxide must be dissolved before they can enter / leave cells
metabolic waste is also dissolved in water
- medium in which chemical reactions occur
all chemical reactions in living organisms occur in water
- reagent during hydrolysis
water breaks polymers (macro-molecules) down to monomers (building blocks)
