Inorganic and organic compounds

• Organic vs inorganic compunds

  Organic

  • all contain Carbon
  • large
  • derived from living organisms
  • non-soluble in water

  inorganic

  • Typically don’t contain carbon
  • small
  • derived from non-living compounds
  • soluble in water
• Minerals

  Micronutrients - nutrients needed in smaller quantities

  C,H,O,N,P

  macronutrients - nutrients needed everyday and in large quantities

  Fe,Na,I2
• Ph scale 


  1-14

  1-6 acidic excess of H+

  7 - neutral

  8-14 alkaline OH-
• What is alkaline

  A base dissolved in water
• Ph of blood


  Avg. of 7.4

  too acidic - coma

  too alkaline - nerve problems, convulsions
• Buffer

  Resists pH change when small amounts of acid or bases are added

  can neutralize small amounts of acids or bases are added

  has a relatively stable pH
• Salts

  Occurs when acids react with bases salts form

  when salts dissolve in water the ions disassociate to form electrolytes

  electrolytes can conduct electric currents and plays a role in nerve impulses and muscle functioning
• H2o


  • reagent in chemical reactions
  • medium for chemical reactions
  • polar molecule + (h) -(oh)
  • source of oxygen
  • important for the maintenance of biological systems
  • solvent