Chemistry of Life

• Matter - any substance that has mass and takes up space
• Examples of Matter:

  • Atoms
  • Molecules
  • Ions
  • Furniture
  • People
  • Plants
  • Water
  • Rocks
• 3 States of Matter:

  1. Solid
  2. Liquid
  3. Gas
• Solid - defined shape and volume. Particles are packed close together.

  Ex. Ice
• Liquid - defined volume, but no defined shape. Space between particles allows this form of matter to flow

  Ex. Water
• Gas - defined volume or shape. Particles can adjust to the size and shape of their container

  Ex. Water vapor in clouds
• Atoms - a particle of matter that uniquely defines a chemical element

  • building blocks of matter
• Protons and neutrons are subatomic particles that make up the center of the atom, or its atomic nucleus
• Protons - positively charged

  • the number of protons in the nucleus of an atom is the atomic number for the chemical element
• Neutron - electrically neutral and has a rest mass of 1.675 x 10-27
• Electrons - negatively charged
• Element: is a substance that cannot be broken down by chemical means, new elements may be formed by nuclear reactions
• 118 known elements
• Molecules - form when two or more atoms form chemical bonds with each other
• Examples of Molecules:

  • H2O (water)
  • N2 (nitrogen)
  • O3 (ozone)
  • CaO (calcium oxide)
  • C6H12O6 (glucose)
  • NaCl (table salt)
• Molecules vs. Compounds

  • Molecules made up of two or more elements are called compounds
  • Note: All compounds are molecules; not all molecules are compounds
• What is not a Molecule?

  • Single atoms of elements are not molecules (Ex. O (Oxygen) is not a molecule)
• Compound - the sharing of one or more electron pairs between atoms
• Ionic Bonding

  • the mutual electrostatic attraction of positive and negative charges
  • in its purest form, ionic bonding is not directional
• Ionic vs Covalent bonding

  • Covalent bonding, where the sharing of electrons results in directional bonds
• Organic vs Inorganic Compounds

  • Organic compounds always contain carbon while most inorganic compounds do not contain carbon
• • nearly all organic compounds contain carbon-hydrogen (C-H bonds)
• Ex. of Organic Compounds or Molecules

  • DNA
  • C12H22O11 (sucrose/table sugar)
  • C6H6 (benzene)
  • CH4 (methane)
  • C2H6O (ethanol or grain alcohol)
• Ex. of Inorganic Compounds

  • NaCl (table salt/sodium chloride)
  • CO2 (carbon dioxide)
  • Diamond (pure carbon)
  • Silver
  • Sulfur
• Saturated fats

  • all fats are made up of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen molecules
  • have the greatest number of hydrogen atoms possible and no double bonds in their chemical structure
• Foods that contain Saturated fats:

  • Animal meat (beef, poultry, pork)
  • Coconut oil or Palm Kernel
  • Dairy products (cheese, butter, milk, ice cream, sour cream and cream cheese)
  • Processes meats (bologna, sausages, hot dogs, and bacon)
  • Pre-packaged snaks (crackers, chips, cookies, and pastries)
• Unsaturated fats

  • typically liquid at room temperature
  • chemical structure contains one or more double bonds
• 2 Categorization of Unsaturated fats:

  1. Monounsaturated fats
  2. Polyunsaturated fats
• Monounsarurated fats

  - contains only one double bond in structure

  • typically liquid at room temperature
  • Ex. Canolo and Olive Oil
• Polyunsaturated fats

  • contain two or more double bonds
  • also liquid at room temperature
  • Ex. Safflower oil, Sunflower Oil, Corn Oil
• Steriods (corticosterioids)

  • are anti-inflammatory medicines used to treat a range of conditions
  • different from anabolic sterioids, which are often illegally by some people to increase their muscle
• Anabolic steroids - prescription-only medicines that are sometimes taken without medical advice to increase muscle mass and improve athletic performance
• Main types of steroids:

  • Tablets and Liquids
  • Inhalers
  • Nasal Sprays
  • Injections
  • Cream, Lotions, and Gels
• Side effects of steroids:

  • increased appetite
  • mood changes
  • difficulty sleeping (insomnia)
  • commom with steroid tablets
• Phospholipids

  • type of lipid molecule that is the main component of the cell membrane
  • lipids are molecules
  • is made up of two fatty acids (1) phosphate group, (2) glycerol molecule
• 3 main types of carbohydrates:

  1. Sugars
  2. Starches
  3. Fiber
• Sugars

  • simple carbohydrates
  • most basic form
  • added to foods (candy, desserts, processed foods, and regular soda)
• Starches

  • complex carbohydrates
  • made of simple sugars
  • body breaks starches down into sugars for energy
  • Ex. vegetables (potatoes, peas, and corn)
• Fiber

  • complex carbohydrate
  • make you feel full and make you less likely to overeat
  • Ex. vegetables, nuts, seeds, beans, and whole grains
• Foods with carbohydrates:

  • Grains (bread, noodles, pasta, crackers, cereals, and rice)
  • Fruits (apples, bananas, berries, mangoes, melons, and oranges)
  • Dairy products (milk and yogurt)
  • Legumes (dried beans, lentils, peas)
  • Snacks & Sweets (cakes, cookies, & candy)Starchy vegerables (potatoes, corn, an peas)