Chapter 3 Study Guide

3.1 Elements of Life

1. Atoms, elements, and compounds
Matter: everything that takes up space and has mass (solid, liquid, gas, plasma)
Vary in energy intensity depending on state
Plasma: matter heated = e- released, particles ionized (observe
in sun, lightning & very hot glames
o Neither created nor destroyed
Principle of conservation of matter: matter = transformed & combo in diff ways
but never disapper b/c everything goes somewhere
Elements: substances that cant be broken down into smaller forms by ordinary
chemical reaction
Oxygen, carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen
Atoms: smalles particle that exhibnit the charactersistics of an element
# of pt = atomic #
Isotopes: form of element that differ in atomic mass
2. Chemical bonds hold molecules together
Compounds: compostition of diff kinds of atoms
Molecule: group of atoms that can exist as single unit
Atom give up more than one electron = oxidized (necessary for
life)
3. Ions react and bond to form compounds
Ions: charged atoms
Acids: substances that easily give up hydrogen ions in water
Ex) hydrochloric acid
Base: substances that readily bond with H+ ions
H+ ions =
4. Four major catergories of organic compounds
Lipids: fats/oils store energy for cells dont dissolve in h2o
Carbohydrates: store energy & provide structure to cellse (sugars)
Proteins: provide structure for cells
Nucleic acids: cary info btwn cells DNA
5. Cells fundamental units of life
Cells: living organisms composed of
Enzymes: special class of protein that carry out all chem reactions required to
create various structures
Metabolism: multitude of enzymatic reactions performed by an organism

3.2 Energy
Energy: ability to work or cause heat to transfer btwn two objects @ diff temps

1. Energy varies in intensity
Kinetic energy: energy contained in moving objects
Potential energy: stored energy that is latent but available for use
Chemical energy: stored in good, gas, etc.
Energy is measured in heat or joules
Heat: energy that can be transferred btwn objects due to diff in temp
2. Thermodynamics regulates energy transfer
First law of thermodynamics
- Energy is conserved; NEITHER created nor destroyed under normal
conditions
- May be transformed
- Ex) chem bond to heat total amount doesnt change
Second Law of thermodynamics
- w/ each successive energy transfer / transformation
- energy degreaded to lower forms
- entropy: disorder increased in all natural systems
- loss/less useful Energy = universe falls apary, slow down, disorganized,
- constant care & management = organization & constant supply of
energy

3.3 Energy for life
1. extremophiles gain energy w/o sunlight
chemosynthesis: process which bacteria use chemical bonds btwn inorganic elements to provide
energy for synthesis of organic molecules
o ex) hydrogen sulfide (H2S), hydrogen gas (H2)
most extremophiles are archea, single celled organisms that are thought to be the most
primitive of all living organisms & the conditions under which they live = similar to those which
life first evolved

o ex) deap sea exploration of areas w.o thermal vents = found abundant life
vast supply of methane produces (can be good or bad)

solar energy essential to life b/c:
o provides warmth (40 degrees celcius)
o nearly all organisms on earth surface depend on solar radiation for life sustaining energy
photosynthesis: converts radiant energy into high quality chemical energy in the bonds that hold
together organic molecules
o ex) plants, algae, bacteria capture 105 billion tons of carbon each yr & store as biomass

phosphorus nucleic acids (DNA)
o eat vegetables to get phosphorus
photosynthesis uses mostly the most abundant wavelentghts visible and near infrared (red &
blue waves)



3. Photosynthesis captures energy; respiration releases energy
Photosynthesis occurs in chloroplasts
Begins w/ light dependent reactions
Use solar energy to split water molecules into 02
02 released into atmosphere and hydrogen


cellular respiration: release chem E, splitting carbon & hydrogen atoms from the sugar
molecule & recombining them w/ O2 to recreate carbon dioxide and h2o

- c6h12o6 + 6o2 6h2o + 6co2 + released energy
photosynthesis captured
respiration released

3.4 From species to ecosystems
1. Ecosystems include living and non living parts
species: all organisms of the same kindthat are genetically similar enough to breed of nature
population: all memers of a species living in a given area @ the same time
biological community all of the pop living & interacting in a particular area
ecosystem: composed of a biological community & physical environment
o abiotic factors = climate, water, minerals
o biotic factors
o many ecosystems have feedback mechanisms that maintain generally stable structure
and functions

2. Food web link species of different trophic levels
producers: organisms that photosynthesize, mainly green plants and algae
productivity: major properties of an ecosystem
o the amount of biomass (bio matter) produced in a given area during a given
period of time
o photosynthesis = primary productivity (basis for almost all growth)
o manufacture of biomass by organisms that eat plants = secondary productivity
food chain: linked feeding series
food web: individual food chains become interconnected
trophic level: organisms feeding status in an ecostystem
o ex) cornplant = producer level transforms solar energy chem energy =
producing food molecules
consumers: other organisms in ecosystem are consumers of the chemical energy
harnessed by the producers
o an organism tht EATS producers is a primary consumer
o length of the food chain also reflect the physical charracteristics of a particular
ecosystem
carnivore: flesh eater
herbivore: plant eater
omnivore: eats both flesh and plants

*** MOST IMPORTANT TROPHIC LEVELS
occupied by the many kinds of organisms that remove & recycle the dead bodies and waste
products of others
scavengers: clean up dead carcasses of larger animals
o ex) crows, jackals, vultures
detricitores: consume litter, debris and dung
o ex) ants & beetles
decomposer: complete final breakdown and recycling of organic materials
o e) fungi, bacteria

4. Ecological pyramids describe trophic levels
Solar energy (trophic levels)
4. Tertiary consumers (top carnivore)
3. Secondary consumers (carnivores)
2. Primary consumers (herbivores)
1. Producers (photosynthetic plants, algae, bacteria)
b/c 2
nd
law of thermodynamics (energy dissipates & degrades as it is reused)
- ex) rabbit comes great deal of chem E stored in carbs in grass kinetic
E when rabbit moves/heat = dissipitates into environment fox eats
rabbit = same degration & dissipitation happens again
fox point of view: lost energy is used in process of living & growing little of E
stored in fox tissue
ecosystem energy p.o.v: there will always be smaller amounts of E @
successively higher trophic levels
- only about 10% of energy in one trophic level is represented in the next
higher level
- amount of E available is often expressed in biomass




3.5 Material Cycles

1. Hydrologic cycle redistributes water
Hydrologic cycle: natural process by which water is purified & made fresh trhu evaporation
& precipitation = fresh h2o for biological life
o Water responsible for metabolic process within cells from maintaining key elements
flow through ecosystem
Some is incorportated by plants & animals in biological tissues kare share of what falls on
land seeps into the ground to be stored (from few days many thousand years) as soil
moisture or ground water
o Eventually all h2o makes way back downhill to oceans
2. Carbon cycle through earth, air, water, and life
Carbon cycke: begins w/ intake of carbon dioxide by photosynthesis organisms
o Carbon atoms incorporated into sugar molecules during photosynthesis
o Co2 eventually released during respiration, closing the cycle
o Special interest b/c biological accumulation & release of carbon is a major factor in
climate regulation
o Oceans very important carbon sinks
3. Nitrogen occurs in many forms
Nitrogen = key limiting factor in ecosystem
Abundant in our environment = 78% of atmosphere
Nitrogen molecules have strong bond = green plants can use nitrogen N2 form directly
NO3- & NH4+ can be used directly by plants
Nitrogen cycle: 02 available, bacteria may combo NH3 (ammonia) w/ O2 form nitrous oxide
(N2O), nitric oxide (NO) nitrite (NO2-) or nitrate (NO3-)
Poor oxygen conditions = denitrifying bacteria remove o2 from nitrate to form gaseous
compounds

4. Phosphorus follows a one way path
Phosphorus most important b/c often limited in supply
Essential component of all sales
Compounds containing phosphorus store & release great deal of E
Phosphorus cycle: one way path bc phosphorus has no atmospheric form & can recirculate
quickly
o Travels gradually downstream = eventually release into water bodies that deliver it
to ocean
o Accumulates in ocean sediments