CHEMISTRY OF LIFE

• MATTER: Anything that occupies space and

has weight

• STATES OF MATTER
Solid
Liquid
gaseous
 ENERGY
• Capacity to do work
• TWO KINDS OF ENERGY
 Potential: stored or inactive energy
 Kinetic: energy in action
 FORMS OF ENERGY
• Chemical energy
• Electrical energy
• Mechanical energy
• Radiant energy
 COMPOSITION OF MATTER
• It is made of fundamental substances called elements
• Elements cannot be broken down into simpler
substances. Examples: carbon, hydrogen, oxygen,
nitrogen
• Elements are made of same identical particles or
building blocks called atoms; are smallest particles of
an element, made of protons, electrons and neutrons,
it has a nucleus which contains neutrons and protons;
orbitals have electrons
ATOMIC STRUCTURE
 3 MAJOR GROUPS OF ELEMENTS
MAJOR ELEMENTS: made of large quantities
in the human body: CHON
LESSER ELEMENTS: made in small amounts
Examples: calcium, phosphorous, potassium,
sulfur, sodium, chlorine, magnesium, iodine,
iron
TRACE ELEMENTS: fluorine, manganese,
selenium, silicon, etc
 ISOTOPES
• Alternate forms of the same chemical
element, have the same number of protons
as that element, but different number of
neutrons
 HOW MATTER IS COMBINED
 Molecule: combination of two or more
atoms held together by chemical bonds
 Compound: two or more different kinds of
atoms bind together
THREE BASIC TYPES OF MIXTURES
• Solutions: homogenous mixtures of two or
more components like gases, solids or liquids:
examples: air (solvent: liquid; solutes:
substances in smaller amounts)
• Colloids: heterogenous mixtures. Solute
particles are larger than those of true
solutions, they do not settle out.
• Suspensions: cytosol – semifluid material in
living cells. Example: CYTOSOL
• Suspensions: heterogenous mixture with
large often visible solutes that tend to settle
out. Example: blood
 DISTINGUISHING BETWEEN
MIXTURES AND COMPOUNDS
• No chemical bonding occurs between
components of a mixture
• The substances making up a mixture can be
separated physical means, compounds –
separated by chemical means
 CHEMICAL BONDS
When atoms combine with other atoms, they
are held together by a chemical bond (energy)
TYPES OF CHEMICAL BONDS
1) Ionic bond
2) Covalent bond
3) Hydrogen bonds
 IONIC BOND
• Electrons be transferred from one atom to
another and precise balance of positive and
negative charges is lost…. Creating anion (-)
and cation (+) … unlike charge particles
attract
 COVALENT BOND
• SHARING ELECTRONS
TWO TYPES OF COVALENT BONDS:
1) non-polar molecules: electrons are shared
equally and molecules formed are
electrically balanced
2) Polar molecules: found in non-symmetrical
molecules containing atoms with different
electron-attracting abilities. Example:
water
 Compare and contrast polar and nonpolar
compounds.
• Polar Compounds:
• -When two or more elements with
differences in electronegativity
between 0.5 and 1.7 are bonded.
• -Electrons are shared unevenly,
causing one side to be slightly
negative and the other to be
slightly positive.
• Both:
• -Bonds are covalent, and between
two nonmetals.
• Nonpolar Compounds:
• -Have elements with differences in
electronegativity less than 0.5
bonded together.
 HYDROGEN BONDS
• Too weak to bind atoms together to form
molecules….. Found in water, proteins and
DNA
 CHEMICAL REACTIONS
Occurs whenever chemical bonds are formed,
rearranged or broken
CHEMICAL EQUATION:
Example:
4H + C CH4 (methane)
(reactants) (balanced (products)
equation)
 Define the three major types of chemical reactions: synthesis,
decomposition, and exchange. Comment on the nature of oxidation
reduction reactions and their importance.

• Major Types of Chemical • -Oxidation is oxygen reacts with

Reactions: hydrocarbons to make carbon
dioxide and water. Oxidation is a
• -Synthesis, when two or more source of heat, light and power.
substances come together to for a
compound.
• -Decomposition, when a
compound breaks apart to form
two or more separate substances.
• -Exchange (two types)
• -The first is when a single
substance replaces one of the
substances in a compound.
• -The other is when there are two
compounds, and one of the
substances in each switch.
 PATTERNS OF CHEMICAL REACTIONS
 Synthesis: anabolic reactions
A + B AB
 Decomposition: molecule is broken down
AB A + B
 Exchange or Displacement
AB + C AC + B
 Reversible reactions:
A + B AB
Question 17: Explain why chemical reactions in the
body are often irreversible.
• -Chemical reactions in the body
are often irreversible because
homeostasis creates conditions
that make it so reactions can only
move in the direction that sustains
homeostasis.
 FACTORS INFLUENCING RATE OF
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
• Temperature
• Particle size
• Concentrations
• catalysts
 BIOCHEMISTRY
Study of chemical composition and reactions of
living matter
BIOLOGICAL COMPOUNDS
 Inorganic compounds: carbon dioxide,
oxygen, water, salts, acids and bases
 Organic compounds: contain carbon and
have covalent bonds. Ex: proteins,
carbohydrates, fats or lipids, nucleic acids,
ATP
 INORGANIC COMPOUNDS
• WATER: most abundant and important inorganic
compound in living material –
60-80 of volume of most living cells
PROPERTIES :
o High heat capacity
o High heat vaporization
o Polarity solvent
o Reactivity
o Cushioning
o cohesion
 SALTS

• Ionic compounds containing cation and anion

Examples: K, Na, NaCl, KCl, CaCO3
• ACIDS: a substance that becomes ionized when
placed in solution, producing positively charged
hydrogen ions, (H). Known as proton donor. Ex.
HCl in the stomach
• Bases or Alkaline: a substance that becomes
ionized when placed in solution, producing
negatively charged hydroxide ions, (OH) known
as proton acceptor
 pH SCALE
0-14 a solution’s acidity or alkalinity is
expressed
Acid Neutral bases

0 7 14

BLOOD pH … 7.45 slightly alkaline

 Question 19: Define acid and base, and explain
the concept of pH.
• -Acid, gives the base a hydrogen
ion.
• -Base, takes the hydrogen ion.
• -pH, is the measure of acidity in a
substance.
• -If the pH is lower than 6, it is an
acid.
- If the pH is higher than 8, it is a
base.
- If the pH is 7, then it is neutral.
 INORGANIC SALTS IN THE HUMAN
BODY
• Sodium chloride
• Calcium chloride
• Magnesium chloride
• Sodium bicarbonate
• Potassium chloride
• Sodium sulfate
• Calcium carbonate
• Calcium phosphate
 BUFFER SYSTEMS
• Mechanism that maintain homeostasis pH
values in the body
• IMPORTANT FUNCTION: to react with strong
acids or bases in the body and replaces them
with weak acid or base that can change the
normal pH values slightly. It prevents
dramatic changes in the pH value in the
blood
• EXAMPLES:
1) Carbonic acid-bicarbonate buffer system
2) Hemoglobin
3) Plasma protein
4) Phosphate buffer systems
 ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
• Carbohydrates
• Proteins
• Fats/triglycerides
• Nucleic acids
• ATPs
 CARBOHYDRATES
• Group of molecules - sugars and starches
1 – 2% cell mass
contain C, H, O
CLASSIFICATIONS OF CARBOHYDRATES:
According to size and solubility
Monosaccharides, Disaccharides,
Polysaccharides
 FUNCTIONS OF CARBOHYDRATES
• Form structural units of compounds or
structures
• Source of energy to sustain life
• Food reserves
 MONOSACCHARIDES
• ONE SUGAR – structural units of CHO
Examples:

Hexoses (6 carbon sugar)

glucose, fructose, galactose

 Pentoses (5 carbon sugar

deoxyribose, ribose
 DISACCHARIDES
Double sugar - formed by two
monosaccharides joined by dehydration
synthesis.
EXAMPLES:
Maltose: 2 molecules of glucose
Sucrose: 1 mol. Glucose and 1 mol. Fructose
Lactose: 1 mole. Glucose and 1 mol.
galactose
 POLYSACCHARIDES
Long chains of simple sugars linked together by
dehydration synthesis
EXAMPES:
a) Starch
b) Glycogen
c) Cellulose
 FATS OR LIPIDS
Contain C, H,O – less oxygen than
carbohydrates, same number of carbon atoms,
contains small quantities of phosphorous,
nitrogen and sulfur
Total body weight: 10-12%
EXAMPLES: triglycerides, prostaglandins,
phospholipids, steroids
 TRIGLYCERIDES
Common fat or neutral fat, two types of
building blocks. 3 fatty acids and 1 glycerol
 PROSTAGLANDINS
• Modified fatty acids, produced by many
tissues
CRUCIAL ROLES: function in blood clotting,
respiration, regulatory effect of several
hormones, influence BP, enhance immune
system and inflammatory response
 PHOSPHOLIPIDS
Fat compounds
Contain: glycerol and two fatty acids
Often linked – nitrogen containing group
Composition of cell membrane
 STEROID
Cholesterol part of Vitamin D – calcitrol, bile
salts, male and female sex hormones
(testosterone and estrogen), cortisol hormone
of adrenal gland

It has steroid nucleus – formed with

interlocking carbon ring
 DIETARY FATS
• Saturated fatty acids – all available bonds of
its hydrocarbon bond are filled or saturated
by hydrogen atoms (solid – room tempt)
• Unsaturated fatty acids – one or more double
bonds in its hydrocarbon chain – not
saturated with hydrogen atoms (liquid –
room tempt)
 FUNCTIONS OF LIPIDS
• Energy rich molecules (yield twice as much
energy as carbohydrates)
• Energy stored in the body (triglycerides)
• Form cellular structures
• Form into vitamins, hormones
• Protect vital organs…… pads, shock absorber
 PROTEINS
-Cell mass is made of 10-30% (most abundant
organic compounds in the human body)
-Known as the basic structure of the body
-CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS MADE OF PROTEINS:
hemoglobin, enzymes, contractile proteins
-BUILDING BLOCS OF PROTEINS: amino acids
20 amino acids in the human body
Two types of amino acids: essential &
nonessential amino acids
 BASIC COMPONENTS
• CARBOHYDRATES – MONOSACCHARIDES
• FATS – FATTY ACIDS AND GLYCEROL
• PROTEINS - AMINO ACIDS
IMPORANT FUNCTIONAL GROUPS IN
AMINO ACID
• Amine group
• Carboxyl group
• R-group
AMPHOTERIC COMPOUNDS: amino acids act
as a base or acid
STRUCTURAL LEVELS OF PROTEINS

• Primary structure: linear sequence of

amino acids composing the polypeptide
chains. Known as the backbone of
protein molecule
• Secondary structure: amino acids twist
or bend amongst themselves
• Tertiary structure: formed a helical or
pleated regions of the polypeptide chains
upon one another producing ball-like
globular molecule
• Quaternary: 2 or more polypeptide chains
are arranged or aggregate in regular
formation – making a complex protein.
Example: hemoglobin
 ENZYMES
CHARACTERISTICS:
 Globular proteins that act as biological
catalyst
 Some enzymes are proteins, others are
functional enzymes, having two parts –
apoenzyme (protein part) and cofactor
(mineral or vitamin)
• Each enzyme is chemically specific on particular
substance called the substrate
• Enzymes are named after reaction they catalyze
like hydrolases, oxidases
• Some enzymes are produced in inactive form
and must be activated in some way before they
can function
• Sometimes enzymes are inactivated
immediately after they performed their
catalyzed function
 LIPOPROTEINS
TWO MAJOR CLASSES OF LIPOPROTEINS
 HDL or high-density lipoproteins: important
in the elimination and metabolism of
cholesterol in the body
 LDL or low-density lipoproteins: contribute
deposits of fatty material in blood vessels,
contributing to atherosclerosis and heart
diseases
 NUCLEIC ACIDS
• Largest organic molecules composed of
carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen and
phosphorous. Store and process information
at the molecular level
 TWO CLASSES OF NUCLEIC ACID
MOLECULES
• Deoxyribonucleic acid or DNA: determines the
inherited characteristics. It encodes information
needed to build proteins by directing the
synthesis of structural proteins. It controls the
shape and physical characteristics of or bodies,
manufacture of enzymes. Regulates cellular
metabolism.
• Ribonucleic acid or RNA : cooperates to
manufacture of specific proteins by using
information provided by DNA
 FIVE NITROGENOUS BASES
• DOUBLE-RINGED STRUCTURES – PURINES
Adenine
guanine
• SINGLE-RINGED MOLECULES – PYRIMIDINES
Cytosine
Thymine
uracil
TYPES OF RNA INVOLVED IN PROTEIN
SYNTHESIS
• Messenger RNA or mRNA: single, unfolded
strand of nucleotides. Serves as working
copy of one protein-coding gene
• Transfer RNA or tRNA: single, folded strand of
nucleotides. Carries a specific amino acid to
a specific codon of mRNA of ribosome during
protein synthesis
• Ribosomal RNA: single, folded strand of
nucleotides. Composition of ribosomes
A COMPARISON OF RNA AND DNA
CHARACTERISTICS RNA DNA
Sugar Ribose Deoxyribose
Nitrogenous adenine adenine
Bases guanine guanine
cytosine cytosine
uracil thymine
Obligatory A-U, G-C A-T, G-C
base pairing
Shape varies paired strands
coiled in double helix
Function performs stored genetic
protein synthesis as information that
directed by controls protein
DNA synthesis of RNA
 OTHER ENERGY TRANSFORMING
NUCLEOTIDES
• NAD: Nicotanamide Adenine Dinucleotide

• FAD: Flavin Adenine Dinucleotide

 ADENOSINE TRIPHOSPHATE OR ATP
• Known as Adenine Ribonucleotide
• Made of Adenosine (adenine and ribose
sugar) and three phosphate groups
• A compound that can pick up energy and give
it to another chemical process
• Known as the energy currency of cells
ATP ADP + energy