Chemistry of Life

Hierarchy of Organization of Life

Life is Organized on Several Levels.

Working from smallest to largest:

Atoms
: the simplest particle of an element
Molecules : a chemical structure consisting of
atoms
Organelle : a structural component of a cell
Cell
: lifes fundamental unit of structure
and function
Tissue
: a group of similar cells
Organ
: specialized body parts made up of
tissues
Organ system
: several organs performing same
function
Organism : an individual living thing
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Hierarchical organization of life

Population

Community
Ecosystem
particular
Biosphere

: all individuals of a species in a particular

area
: all organisms in an ecosystem
: all living and nonliving things in a
area
: all environments on Earth

Hierarchical organization of life

The biosphere

Cell

Ecosystems

Organelles
Molecules

Atoms

Communities

Populations

Tissues
Organism

Organs and organ systems

Example:EarthDeciduousForestLivingThingsinForest AllMaple
TreesIndividualMapleTreeLeavesLeafSurface LeafCell
ChloroplastChlorophyllPhosphorous
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Hierarchical organization of life

Hierarchical organization of life

CHEMISTRY

Composition of Matter

Matter - Everything in universe

is composed of matter
Matter is anything that
occupies space or has mass
Mass quantity of matter
an object has
Weight pull of gravity
on an object

Elements

Pure substances that cannot be broken down

chemically into simpler kinds of matter
consists only of atoms with the same number of
protons
More than 100 elements (92 naturally occurring)

Four most common chemicals in living

organisms

90% of the mass of an organism is

composed of 4 elements (oxygen, carbon,
hydrogen and nitrogen)
Each element unique chemical symbol
Consists of 1-2 letters
First letter is always capitalized

Atoms

The simplest particle of an element that retains

all the properties of that element
Properties of atoms determine the structure and
properties of the matter they compose
Building block of matter.
Consist of smaller subatomic particles:

positively charged protons (p+)

uncharged neutrons and
negatively charged electrons (e-).

The Nucleus

Central core, consisting of positive

charged protons and neutral neutrons
Positively charged
Contains most of the mass of the atom

Mass number = Total number of protons and neutrons

in the nucleus of an element's atoms.

The Protons

Positively charged subatomic particle that occurs in

the nucleus of all atoms.
All atoms of a given element have the same number
of protons
Number of protons called the atomic number
Number of protons balanced by an equal number of
negatively charged electrons

The Neutrons

Uncharged subatomic particle in the atomic nucleus.

The number varies slightly among atoms of the same
element
Different number of neutrons produces isotopes of
the same element

The Electrons

Negatively charged high energy particles with

little or no mass
Travel at very high speeds at various distances
(energy levels) from the nucleus
Electrons in the same energy level are approximately
the same distance from the nucleus
Outer energy levels have more energy than inner
levels
Each level holds only a certain number of electrons

Why Electrons Matters

IONS

Atoms with vacancies tend to interact with other atoms: They give up, acquire, or
share electrons until they have no vacancies in their outermost shell. Any atom
is in its most stable state when it has no vacancies.

From Atoms to Molecules

A molecule is a group of atoms that are bound tightly together

by chemical bonds
Compound = combination of two or more different elements
(e.g. H2O)
Molecules are held together by chemical bonds
Chemical Bond: A molecule is a particle composed of two or
more atoms. The force that holds the atoms together in a
molecule is called a chemical bond.
ionic bonds
covalent bonds
Molecules that consist of two or more different elements are
called compounds

Chemical Bonds
Covalent
Ionic
Hydrogen

Chemical bonds involve atoms sharing, donating or accepting elect

Ionic Bonds

A bond that is formed by the transfer of electrons is called an ionic bond.

Covalent Bonding

Sharing of pairs of electrons is called covalent bonding.

Two Types of Covalent Bonds

Nonpolar Covalent Bond

The atoms participating in the bond are sharing electrons equally.

equally
There is no difference in charge between the two ends of such
bonds.

Polar Covalent Bond

Atoms participating in the bonds do not share electrons equally.

One atom pulls the electrons a little more toward its "end" of the
bond, so that atom bears a slightly negative charge. The atom at the
other end of the bond bears a slightly positive charge.

Polar Covalent Bond

Polarity occurs when atoms
electrons unequally due to
differences in
electronegativities.
This is seen in water
(H2O).
More electronegative atoms
tend to pull electrons
toward them creating a
The oxygen atom in a water molecule carries a slight negative
polar molecule.
charge, and each of the hydrogen atoms carries a slight positive
charge. Any separation of charge into distinct positive and negative
regions is called polarity.

Ionization
Molecules formed by ionic
bonding breakup
(ionization)
when dissolved in water
(solvent), producing
separate positive (cation)
and negative (anion) ions.
These ions conduct
electricity and thus called
electrolytes.

Hydrogen Bonds

A hydrogen bond is a weak attraction between a hydrogen atom

and another atom taking part in a separate polar covalent bond

Like ionic bonds, hydrogen bonds form by the mutual attraction

of opposite charges.

Unlike ionic bonds, hydrogen bonds do not make molecules out of

atoms, so they are not chemical bonds

Hydrogen bonds form and break much more easily

 Hydrogen bonding is
formed between the
partially positive
(hydrogen) end of a
polar molecule and the
negative end of
another
(e.g. O2 or N2).

Example : Water molecules