Cell Chemistry (I)

Inorganic Compounds
Chemical Bonds
Solutions and pH

Introduction
Approach this ppt NOT as lecture notes
but as an outline of the basic
chemistry that you need to know to
understand physiology and ease your
way into biochemistry.
Most of the information can be found in
Ch. 1, 2 or 3 of any college Anat. &
Physiol. or college Biology textbook.
This ppt is NOT a substitute for reading
the book.

Chemical Bonds
Review the basic facts about:
Ionic bond
Covalent bond
Polar covalent bond
Hydrogen bond

The next slides illustrates some of

these bonds

Some Bonds Illustrated

(Marieb, Fig. 2.9)

Hydrogen Bonds Between Water

Molecules
(Becker Fig. 2.8)

Solubilization of NaCl
(Becker Fig. 2.10)

Water: Significance in Physiology

Water is essential for life
It is a universal solvent in biological
systems because of its:
Polarity, its cohesiveness, its temperaturestabilizing capacity and its solvent properties

Water molecules are held by Hydrogen

bonds and these bonds account for its
high surface tension, its high boiling
point, high specific heat and high heat
of vaporization
Cells are about 75-85% water by weight
and ones body weight is about 60% water.

Terms Linking Solubility of Solutes

in Water
The terms hydrophilic, hydrophobic,
amphipathic and oil/water partition
coefficient are often used to describe the
solubility of a solute in water.
Hydrophilic solutes are usually polar (they have
polar covalent bonds or ionic bonds) and
because of their polarity dissolve readily in water
Hydrophobic solutes are non-polar, therefore,
not soluble in water. They are soluble in organic
solvents like benzene. They are rich in non-polar
covalent bonds.
Amphipathic solutes have a region that is
hydrophilic and another one that is hydrophobic.

Surface Tension Allows Insect to Walk

on Water

Know examples of acids, bases & salts

Know how to calculate, molarity, osmolarity and
equivalentsK

SOLUTIONS

Solutions
Two components:
Solvent
Solute(s)

In physiology and in all biological systems:

the solvent is H2O
The solutes are many (hundreds) like

Nutrients like amino acids, glucose

Electrolytes (in physiology = anions & cations)
Gases like O2 and CO2
Wastes like urea, creatinine, uric acid

Examples of solutions in the body

Plasma
Interstitial fluid
Synovial fluid
Urine

Concentration of Solution

Concentration is a ratio of the amount of solute(s) in a given

volume of solvent
Amounts are often expressed in
Grams (g)
Milligrams (mg)
Mole (m) or millimole (mM)
Milliequivalent (mEq)
Osmole (Osm) or milliosmole (mOsm)
Volume is often expressed in
Liters (L)
Deciliter(100 mL)
Milliliters (mL)
Microliters

Examples:
0.9% NaCl or 135mmole/L NaCl or 135 mEq /L

GOAL: Given weight in grams, know how to calculate

concentrations in molarity, osmolarity and equivalent

Units for Concentration of Solutions

Percent (%):
0.9% Sodium chloride (normal saline)
153 mmole/L Sodium chloride (normal saline)

??

Other units commonly used in physiology

Do these have the same amount of NaCl? Justify your answer

0.1-0.4 mg/dL creatinine
70-110 mg/dL glucose
285-295 mOsm/Kg H2O
(For what?
136-142 mEq/L Sodium

Units for amount of gas

80-105 mmHg
Volume %

Why should I care about these units?

You will constantly run into them in physiology, in reading patients charts and in reading
cases.

Inorganic Compounds
Most of the chemical in your body and the foods that you
consume are compounds that are classified as:
Inorganic or
Organic
Inorganic compounds
Small
Lack carbon atom (some exceptions? )
Most are composed of minerals like K, Ca, P, Mg, Fe
Their atoms are held by ionic bonds

Characteristic of ionic bonds

They are weak ( easily broken, no enzyme required)

Common Examples of Inorganic

Compounds
Significant in Physiology
Sodium chloride:
NaCl

Calcium phosphate
(Ca)3(PO4)2

Potassium iodide
KI

Sodium bicarbonate
Na(HCO3)

Hydrochloric acid
HCl

Sodium hydroxide
NaOH

Magnesium
hydroxide
Mg(OH)2

Calcium chloride
CaCl2

Sources of Electrolytes in Physiology

In physiology, anions and cations
are collectively called electrolytes
Salts
NaCl, KI, Na(HCO3)

Acids (organic and inorganic)

HCl, H2CO3
Lactic acid and Acetoacetic acid

Bases

HCO3OH-

Ionization of Salts, Acids and Bases

In H2O the ionic bonds in acids, salts
and bases break and the atoms
dissociate into ions (or ionize).
Examples
Replace question marks with correct
answer/s

NaCl -> Na+ + ClKI -> ??

H2CO3 --> H+ + HCO3Mg(OH)2 ??

What to Do!
Look up/review significance of listed ions
in physiology or cell biology.
Example: I- (iodide) is essential for thyroxine
(T4) synthesis by the thyroid gland. T4
regulates basal metabolic rate. Now do the
same for:

H+

K+

Na+
Cl Fe++
Ca++

Questions?
Which one is
OR which ones
are:

A) acid(s)
B) base(s)
C) salt(s)
D) electrolytes

1. HCl
2. H2CO3
3. KI (potassium
iodide)

4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

Na(HCO3)
Ca3(PO4)2
NaCl
Na(OH)
Mg(OH)2
H2CO3

Inorganic Acids, Bases and Salts

Acids, bases and salts in the diet are major sources
electrolytes (anions and cations) in body fluids.
In H2O acids, bases and salts ionize or dissociate
into anions and cations.
Examples:
Na:Cl -> Na+ + Cl H:Cl -> H+ + Cl Na:OH -> Na+ + (OH)-

All ions are not NAKED. They are surrounded by a

shell of H2O (a hydration shell)
Hydration shell Illustrated on next slide.

Solubilization of NaCl
(Becker Fig. 2.10)

ACIDS, BASES AND PH

Acid: Definition & Examples

Substances () that ionize (dissociate) into one or
more Hydrogen ion (H+) PLUS one or more
anion(s)
H+ is also called a proton.
Acids are also defined as a proton donors or
substances that add proton(s) to a solution.
Examples of:
Inorganic acids; ---??
Organic acids: ---??

Significance of H+ in Solutions
H+ concentration in a solution affects the
acidity or alkalinity of the solution:
pH =log 1/[H+] = -log [H+]

Note log scale and inverse relationship

between [H+] and acidity/alkalinity of a
solution
? Fill-in blank spaces with the correct term
The higher the [H+] the more ---? the solution
The lower the [H+] the more ---? The solution

pH: Note Log Scale

Know pH of Some Foods Household
Goods

Base: Definition and Examples

Substance (electrolyte) that ionizes
(dissociates) into one or more hydroxide
(OH-) ion(s) PLUS one or more cation(s).
Also defined as substances that accept or
bind to or remove free proton(s) from
solutions.
HCO3- (What ion is this?) is a major base in
body fluids.

Salt: Definition and Examples

Substance (electrolyte) dissociate into
cations (??) and anions (??) neither of
which (??) is H+ or (OH) Examples of salts?

Products of reaction between an acid and

a base
Example ofsuch a reaction
Na(OH) + HCl -- NaCl + H2O

Body Fluid pH
Normal body fluid pH is between 7.35 to
7.45.
pH below 7.35 is a condition called acidosis
pH above 7.45 is a condition called alkalosis
Two organs collaborate to maintain normal
body fluid pH:
The lungs and the kidneys

The lungs do so by regulating the excretion

rate of CO2 and the kidneys, by regulating
the excretion rate of HCO3- ions.

Questions
1. Gastric juice (produced by the stomach) has a pH of
5.0 and plasma pH is 7.0.
A) Which one has the lowest H+ concentration: Plasma or
gastric juice?
B) The difference in concentration is how many times
lower?

2. Mr. John Doe has a kidney disease that impairs

excretion of HCO3-.
A) Would his plasma HCO3- Concentration increase,
decrease or remain within the normal range?
B) Is he likely to end up with acidosis, alkalosis or
neither? Justify your answer.

3. Would you expect hyperventilation or

hypoventilation to impact your body fluid pH?
Justify your answer

CHEMISTRY I

THE END