Elements Fundamental to Life

Question 1

what does CHNOPS stand for

Answer 1

Carbon, Hydrogen & Oxygen, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Sulfur

Question 2

out of the 90+ elements found naturally on earth, how many make up the majority of living organisms

Answer 2

6

Question 3

describe carbon

Answer 3

able to make 4 bonds, makes many shapes and structures, makes up the backbone of the major biomolecules

Question 4

describe hydrogen & oxygen

Answer 4

make up water; creates hydrogen bonds part of several functional groups in organic molecules

Question 5

describe nitrogen

Answer 5

key component of DNA and Proteins

Question 6

describe phosphorus

Answer 6

key component of DNA and ATP (energy molecule)

Question 7

describe sulfur

Answer 7

found in some amino acids, part of protein’s 3D shape

Question 8

describe organic chemistry + ex (4)

Answer 8

• containing carbon
• biomolecules are all organic
• functional groups make these molecules able to react and interact with one another
  ex: hydroxyl, methyl, amino, phosphate

Question 9

describe water

Answer 9

• essential molecule
• polarity makes it negative on the oxigen end, positive on the hydrogen ends
• water hydrogen bonds
• these properties make water perfect as the universal solvent. most fluids in the body, both outside the cell (blood, lymph, ECF) and inside (cytoplasm) are mainly made of water
• high heat capacity (great for temperature regulation, like sweating)

Question 10

ADP & ATP Cycle

Answer 10

• biological energy molecules
• energy is stored in the bond between the last two phosphate groups in ATP
• it is a high energy bond (5KJ/mol) because the phosphate groups are negative and repel each other
• cellular respiration releases energy stored in the glucose molecule. this energy is used to add a phosphate group to ADP, making ATP
• the energy is released elsewhere in the cell, by removing the phosphate group
• ADP = adanosine di phosphate
• ATP = adanosine tri phosphate