The chemistry of life

Question 1

Minerals

Answer 1

Simple inorganic substances required by living organisms

Question 2

Any three elements that are required for the formation of cell membranes

Answer 2

Phosphorus (p)
Calcium (ca)
Iron (fe)

Question 3

Any three elements that are required for chlorine formation

Answer 3

Magnesium(Mg)
Nitrogen(N)
Iron(Fe)

Question 4

Any three elements that are required for the formation of strong bones and teeth

Answer 4

Calcium (Ca)
Phosphorus (P)
Fluorine (F)

Question 5

Any two elements that are required for the formation of nucleic acids

Answer 5

Phosphorus (P)
Nitrogen (N)

Question 6

Any two minerals that are required for the formation of Proteins

Answer 6

Sulfur (S)
Nitrogen (N)

Question 7

Mineral element that forms the central atom of chlorophyll

Answer 7

Magnesium (Mg)

Question 8

Mineral element that is a component of haemoglobin

Answer 8

Iron (Fe)

Question 9

Eutrophication

Answer 9

The high amount of nutrients in the water, especially nitrates and phosphates causes algae and other water plants to grow rapidly, we call this Eutrophication

Question 10

Why is water important

Answer 10

It is the substance that makes life on earth possible

70 to 95 percent of cells are made up of water

the human body is made up of 60 to 75 percent of water

Question 11

Functions of water

Answer 11

Required to breakdown larger organic compounds into smaller substances such as during digestion

Chemical reactions in cells can only take place if water is present

Transport food around the alimentary canal

Transport mineral salts in plants

Dissolves waste products produced by the body forming urine and sweat

Question 12

Examples of organic compounds

Answer 12

Carbohydrates
Lipids
Proteins
Nucleic acids
vitamins

Question 13

Organic compound

Answer 13

a compound containing carbon atoms, typically bonded to hydrogen, and often to other elements like oxygen, nitrogen, or halogens, through covalent bonds.

Question 14

Key element found in all organic compounds

Answer 14

Carbon

Question 15

Organic compound which has carbon, oxygen and hydrogen

Answer 15

Protein

Question 16

The element that must be present in proteins but not in carbohydrates and not in lipids

Answer 16

Nitrogen

Question 17

Amino acids

Answer 17

The smaller units or ‘'’building blocks’’ of which proteins are made

Question 18

Polysaccharides

Answer 18

Carbohydrates made up of more than two monosccharides

Question 19

Organic compound which has the elements carbon, oxygen, hydrogen and oxygen only with hydrogen and oxygen with the ration 2:1

Answer 19

Lipids

Question 20

The building blocks of lipids

Answer 20

glycerol (fatty acids)

Question 21

Phospholipids

Answer 21

Type of lipids found in cell membranes

Question 22

Atheroscierosis

Answer 22

Heart disease caused by narrowing of the coronary arteries as a result of fatty acids in the arteries

Question 23

Characteristics of lipids

Answer 23

energy source

Contains hydrogen, oxygen and carbon

Question 24

Characteristics of carbohydrates

Answer 24

ratio H:O IS 2:1
Contains Hydrogen, oxygen and carbon
denatured by excessive heat

Question 25

Characteristics of Proteins

Answer 25

energy source denatured by excessive heat contain nitrogen

Question 26

Enzymes

Answer 26

They speed up chemical reactions without being used up in the reaction itself They control and regulate all chemical reactions that take place in the cell, so they occur at the best possible of optimum rate

Question 27

Lock and key theory

Answer 27

Each enzyme has a particular shape The substance on which the substance works fits into the enzyme, an enzyme substrate complex is formed a chemical reaction occurs and a substance is changed, the enzyme and the products are then separated the enzyme is free to react with more of the substrate

Question 28

An organic substance that promotes chemical change, without itself being used up in the reaction

Answer 28

Enzymes

Question 29

Co enzymes

Answer 29

An organic partner which is required by most enzymes for their functioning

Question 30

Denature

Answer 30

The process by which enzymes lose their shape and function because of high temperatures

Question 31

Why does enzyme activity decrease when the temperature is greater

Answer 31

Enzymes are sensitive to extreme temperatures and PH

Question 32

Why do most washing powders have proteases as their enzyme

Answer 32

To keep costs down They break down proteins meaning they are good for removing stains

Question 33

Organic molecule that make up chromosomes

Answer 33

DNA

Question 34

building blocks of DNA

Answer 34

Nucleotides

Question 35

Genes

Answer 35

Small specialized portions of DNA which control the inheritance of characteristics from parent to offspring