Chemistry Of Life

• Inorganic substances


  Substances like table salt, carbon dioxide, diamonds, and silver that do not contain carbon-hydrogen bonds
• Carbon dioxide, despite containing carbon, is considered an inorganic substance
• Organic substances

  • DNA
  • Table sugar
  • Methane
  • Ethanol
• Water is known as the universal solvent as substances can dissolve easily into it
• Water

  • Polar molecule with one side slightly negative and the other slightly positive, exhibits adhesive properties by sticking to other substances easily
• Water

  Essential for life, made up of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom, forms hydrogen bonds with cohesive forces
• Water is the main medium for chemical reactions in cells, aiding processes like hydrolysis
• Organic substances


  Substances that contain the elements of carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen; deemed organic when the carbon molecule or element is attached to a hydrogen
• Introduction to biochemistry

  Looking at the compounds that make up organic and inorganic substances
• Organic substances have a carbon backbone with hydrogen attached, making them organic
• The defining qualities between organic and inorganic substances depend on how the elements are put together and how they are attached to one another
• Water is important for cooling the body, lubrication, protection, and maintaining turgor pressure in plants
• Water is polar in nature


  It has amazing adhesive properties and forms strong bonds with other substances
• Inorganic compounds essential for living organisms

  • Water
  • Minerals
• Plants obtain minerals from the soil, while animals obtain them through food
• Zinc sources

  • Dairy products, liver, wheat
• Monosaccharides are the building blocks of carbohydrates, the simplest sugars used for bodily functions
• Calcium sources


  • Cheese, milk, green vegetables
• Potassium sources

  • Fruit, vegetables, grains
• Types of minerals

  • Macronutrients
  • Trace minerals or micronutrients
• Turgor pressure


  The way in which plants stay upright, preventing wilting and bending over
• Examples of minerals

  • Calcium
  • Magnesium
  • Potassium
  • Iron
  • Zinc
• Monosaccharides

  • Glucose, fructose, galactose
• Monosaccharides


  Simplest sugars, building blocks of carbohydrates
• Minerals


  Dietary chemicals needed for life, including macronutrients and trace minerals
• Humans and animals need a variety of nutrients to absorb inorganic substances to maintain proper levels
• Organic compounds

  Contain carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen
• Components of mucus and saliva

  • Mostly made out of water
• Magnesium sources

  • Fish, beans, green leafy vegetables, whole wheat products
• Deficiencies in minerals can lead to various diseases such as rickets, osteoporosis, anemia, etc.
• Polysaccharides

  • Starch, cellulose, glycogen
• Organic compounds

  Depend on how the hydrogen molecules are attached to carbons, the order of elements found dictates the structure and function of the compound
• Monosaccharides

  • Glucose
• Monosaccharides


  Simplest form or monomers of carbohydrates
• Testing for reducing sugars

  Use Benedict's solution as an indicator, which changes color based on the presence and amount of reducing sugars
• Testing for reducing sugars

  Heat the test sample with Benedict's solution in a water bath, observe color change to determine the presence of reducing sugars
• Disaccharides


  • Sucrose (combination of glucose and frac)
• Carbohydrates


  • Provide energy for organisms, serve as reserve energy source, provide structure in plants, and offer dietary fiber
• Formation of carbohydrates

  Monosaccharides are strung together to form disaccharides and polysaccharides
• Polysaccharides

  • Amylose (type of starch)