The chemistry of life

• minerals


  simple inorganic substances needed by living organisms
• Micro elements


  Mineral elements needed in small quantities
• Macro elements


  Minerals needed in larger quantities
• Sodium ( Na)


  Function: 🌾maintains osmotic balance in plants

  🙋Plays a role in the functioning of the nerve and muscles.

  Regulates secretion of HCL in stomach.

  
  

  Deficiency : 🌾reduce plant growth.

  🙋Muscle cramps
• Potassium (K)


  Function : required for :

  🌾Photosynthesis.Protein synthesis Activation of plant enzymes Regulating plant stomata and water use.

  🙋Regulation of blood pressure, nerve functions, muscle control, and cellular respiration.

  
  

  Deficiency : 🌾lower resistance to drough.

  🙋lower levels of oxygen, muscle cramps. Lung failure
• Calcium ( Ca)


  Function : Required for : 🌾 the formation of the middle lamella of cell walls. Maintaining permeability of cell membrane.

  🙋 the formation of bones and teeth. Blood clotting.

  
  

  Deficiency : 🌾 poor growth of plant.

  🙋 rickets in children. Poor bone formation.
• Phosphorus ( P)


  Function : required for the formation of :🌾cell membrane. Nucleic acids.

  🙋cell membrane. Nucleic acids. Bone and teeth.

  
  

  Deficiency : 🌾brown spots in leafs and premature leaf fall.

  🙋rickets in children.
• Iron ( fe)


  Function : required for the formation of :🌾 chlorophyll.

  🙋 haemoglobin.

  
  

  Deficiency :🌾 chlorosis in plants.

  🙋anaemia
• Iodine ( I )


  Function : required for 🌾 photosynthesis

  🙋 required for the formation of the hormone thyroxin and the thyroid gland.

  
  

  Deficiency : 🌾decrease growth and death of plants.

  🙋 goitre - enlargement of thyroid gland.
• Nitrogen ( n)


  Function : required for the formation of : 🌾amino acids which make up proteins. Nucleic acids. Chlorophyll molecules.

  🙋formation of amino acids which make up protein. Nucleic acids.

  
  

  Deficiency : 🌾 chlorosis in plants.

  🙋 kwashiorkor in children.
• What do plants require ?

  Nutrients from air and soil.
• What happens when the above is done ?

  The dead organisms release their energy and nutrients into the atmosphere
• What do farmers use and what do the contain


  They use fertilizers that contain nitrates and phosphates.
• Why do they use these

  To replace the nutrients that were used up.
• What is the result of this


  The over population of rich water plants which decreases the ability of light to reach plants lower down. These plants die and rot.
• What happens when the number of bacteria increase


  Large quantities of oxygen is used by the bacteria to decompose. The decrease in oxygen leads to the death of other organisms.
• What are inorganic compounds ?


  Water and MINERAL SALTS are the main inorganic substances needed by living organisms.
• Table salt


  Sodium chloride
• What salts contains important mineral elements


  Nitrates - nitrogen.

  Phosphates - phosphorus.
• The only natural substance that occur in 3 states


  Water
• Why is water important ?

  Makes life on earth possible. 70 - 95 % of cells are made of water. The human body is made of 60 -75 % water
• What are the functions of water ?


  Required for digestion and chemical reactions in cells. Transports food down the alimentary canal. Transports mineral salts in plants. Dissolves waste products.
• What do organic compounds contain ?

  Carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. Some also contain nitrogen.
• Carbohydrates are made of

  Carbon, hydrogen and oxygen.
• Amount of hydrogen atoms in carbohydrates


  Double that of oxygen
• Monosaccharides


  Singles sugars eg. Glucose and fructose.
• Disaccharides


  Made of two monosaccharides eg. Maltose, lactose (milk) and sucrose (cane sugar )
• Polysaccharides


  More than two monosaccharides
• Function of carbohydrates


  Source of energy.

  Store energy.

  Supply cells with materials needed to build structures eg. Cellulose is used for the cell walls.
• What are lipids made of?

  Carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. Many contain phospholipids.
• What makes yo the cell membrane ?

  Phospholipids
• Ration of hydrogen to oxygen in lipids

  2:1
• What makes the fat molecules ?

  Glycerol and fatty acids.
• What is meant by saturated with hydrogen

  It cannot take more hydrogen atoms
• What are saturated fats ?


  Fats formed from saturated fatty acids
• Complete : they are _____ at room temperature

  They are solid at room temperature
• Examples of saturated fats


  Animal fats, butter, beeswax.
• What is unsaturated fats ?


  Fatty acids that are unsaturated
• Completed : they are_____ room temperature


  They are liquid at room temperature
• Example of unsaturated fats


  Olive oil, cold liver oil.