TEKS 7.6A: organic compounds contain
carbon and other elements such as
hydrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, nitrogen
or sulfur.
What
are elements?
What are compounds?
Agree on definitions for
each word.

Elements are substances that cannot be broken
down into any other substance by chemical or
physical means.

The Periodic Table organizes the elements based
on their physical and chemical properties.

An element can be made of a
single atom or 2 of the same
atoms joined in a molecule
(ex. He or C)
 When
elements are combined they make
compounds.
A
compound is a substance made of 2 or
more different elements that are
chemically bound and set together in a set
ratio.
Salt
NaCl
Glucose
C6H12O6
Iron
Fe
Carbon Dioxide
CO2
Water
H2O
Oxygen
O2
Fertilizer
Ca2(PO4)2
 Formulas
show what elements and how many
atoms of each element are involved in the
compound.
 H2O
(water)
 2- Hydrogen and 1- Oxygen
 NaCl (table salt)
 1- Sodium and 1 Chlorine
 CO2 (carbon dioxide)
 1- Carbon and 2 Oxygen
 NH3 (ammonia)
 1 Nitrogen and 3 Hydrogen
2H2 + O2
 2 H 2O
Reactants
Product
 2 hydrogen molecules combined with 1
oxygen molecule yields 2 water molecules.


Methane - CH4

Formaldehyde - CH2O

Ethanol - C2H6O

Salicylic acid (used for acne) - C7H6O3

Histamine - C5H9N3
Contain the elements
Carbon and Hydrogen.
 are made from plant or
animal products
 They can also include
other elements such as
oxygen, phosphorus,
nitrogen, sulfur
 All living things are organic
compounds
 Organic compounds are
formed by producers that
use carbon dioxide from
the air and water from the
soil to make food

 Organisms
also use nitrogen, phosphorus and
sulfur to form cells and tissues.
 How
can I remember all of these elements?
SPONCH!
 Living
organisms
obtain elements
needed to make
organic compounds
 They get these
compounds from:



The atmosphere (air)
Water from the soil
Consuming other
organisms
 Organic
compounds are formed by producers
that use carbon dioxide from the air and
water from the soil to make food.
 Latin
prefix “in-” means
“not, lacking, without”
 Compounds that do not
contain Carbon (bonded to a
hydrogen)
 Is carbon dioxide (CO2 )
organic or inorganic? Why?
 Inorganic compounds are
produced by non-living
natural processes or by
human intervention in the
laboratory
Salt
NaCl
Glucose
C6H12O6
Carbon Dioxide
CO2
Water
H2O
Caffeine
C8H10N4O5
Fertilizer
Ca2(PO4)2
Chlorophyll
C55H72MgN4O5
 The
phrase carbon cycle is used to describe how
the carbon in the environment flows among
living beings, inorganic matter and the
atmosphere.
 The path that carbon follows as it cycles through
the air, earth, plants, animals and fossil fuels
 The carbon cycle is basically a two step process
involving photosynthesis and respiration.

Fill in this page, then glue it in after your notes
Nitrogen travels with the help of bacteria, water,
lightning, plants, and animals.
 You will travel as nitrogen! See the nitrogen reservoir
signs around the room?
 These are the places to which nitrogen can
travel. These places are called reservoirs.
 To travel through the nitrogen cycle (different stations
around the room) based on dice rolls.
 You will each carry a nitrogen passport with them and
stamp it each time they get to a nitrogen reservoir
station.
 Then toss the die at the reservoir to determine their
next destination.
 Don’t forget to note in the passport how they get from
one place to another based the roll of the die.

Discussion
 After everyone has filled their passport
worksheet, let’s discuss as a class:
 How many stops can you make on your trip?
 Will your journey ever end?
 Was everyone’s journey the same? Why not?
 What would happen if a farmer used too
much fertilizer? (In this game, that would
mean that everyone starts from the fertilizer
station at the same time.)
 What would happen if we burnt too many
fossil fuels?