Chemistry of Life Essential Questions
VMHS
Standards
8.6b; 8.6c; 1h; 4e; 4f; 5a;1b;
1. What is an atom? What are elements?
• An atom is the ___________________ basic unit of ___________________
o Consist of ___________________, ___________________, and ___________________
• An element is a ___________________ type of atom
o Ex. gold, ___________________, hydrogen, ___________________, etc.
2. Describe the 3 subatomic particles that make up an atom.
• ___________________, ___________________, and ___________________
• Different numbers of ___________________ make different atoms (___________________ charged)
• ___________________ held in energy levels determine the properties of atoms (___________ charged)
• ___________________ have no charge
3. What are the 6 most abundant elements in the human body?
• ___________________
• ___________________
• ___________________
• ___________________
• ___________________
• ___________________
4. What is a compound? How is it different from an element?
• A compound is a substance made of atoms that are ___________________ together.
• The properties of a __________________ are often different than the ______________ than make it up.
o Ex. H2O is made of ______________ _____ and ______________ _____
5. What is an ion? Describe the formation of an ionic compound.
• An ion is an atom that has ___________________ or ___________________ one or more electrons
• An ionic compound forms through the ___________________ force between two
___________________ charged ions.
o Ex. Na+ and Cl- ___________________ (table salt)
6. What is the difference between an ionic bond and a covalent bond?
• Ionic bonds form through the _________________ force between two _______________ charged ions.
• Covalent bonds form when atoms ___________________ a pair of ___________________
7. What is a molecule?
• A molecule is two or more ___________________ held together by ___________________ bonds.
8. What is the chemical formula for water? What are hydrogen bonds?
• ___________________
• Hydrogen bonds are __________________ attractions between + Hydrogen atoms and – Oxygen atoms
9. Draw 3 H2O molecules with hydrogen bonds.
10. What are the 8 chemical properties that make water unique?
1st. H2O is a ___________________ molecule
• It has separated ___________________
nd
2 . Water is a ___________________
• It will dissolve almost anything
rd
3 . Water is ___________________ and ___________________ (capillary action)
• It sticks to itself and to other things
4th. Water has a ____________specific heat
• Able to absorb a lot of heat energy without a large change in temperature
5th. Water has a high heat of ___________________
• It takes a lot of heat to turn liquid water into a gas
6th. Water has a high heat of ___________________
• It takes a lot of heat removed to turn water into ice
7th. Water has high surface ___________________
• H2O molecules stick together and form a membrane on the surface of water
8th. Water loses density and expands upon ___________________
• Ice floats
11. Why do microwaves cook the food, but not the container?
• ___________________ of water!!
• The wave has an alternating + and – ___________________ which alternatively attracts the – and +
ends of the water molecule, causing molecules to shake back and forth.
• The shaking molecules collide and generate ___________________ through _________________.
12. What is pH?
• pH is a measure of the hydrogen ion [H+] ___________________
• H2O H+ + OH• Pure water = pH 7
• ___________________ = pH less than 7
• ___________________ = pH more than 7
13. What is the pH of normal rainwater? What is the pH of acid rain?
• Rainwater is slightly ___________________ = 5.0 – 6.0 because of CO2 in the air
• Acid rain has a pH of _______ to ________ (could be as low as _______ in some places)
14. Why is Carbon so important to life?
• Carbon has _____ unpaired electrons in its outer energy level, so it can bond with ____ other atoms
• This makes carbon able to form ___________________ of different ___________________.
o Ex. Straight ___________________, ___________________, branched ___________________
15. What is nanotechnology?
• Nanotechnology is a field of science that seeks to design useful materials at the _______________ level.
• Materials could be used to help humans at the ___________________ level (ex. repair tissues) and build
more portable technology.
o Carbon-carbon bonds are often used because of carbon’s ______ unpaired electrons
Ex. Carbon nanotubes
16. How are monomers and polymers related?
• A polymer is a ___________________ molecule made of many small ___________________, called
monomers, that are bonded together.
17. What are the 4 major carbon-based molecules found in all living things?
• ___________________
• ___________________
• ___________________
• ___________________
18. Fill in the following table on carbon-based molecules.
(at the end)
19. Name the following molecules of life. (at the end)
20. How is a protein’s structure related to its function? Explain protein denaturation.
• _____ different amino acids (___________________) make up proteins (___________________)
• Proteins differ in the ___________________ and ___________________ of the amino acids
• A protein’s ___________________ of amino acids, ___________________ of amino acids,
___________________ of polypeptides, and ___________________ determine its function
• Protein ___________________ occurs when a protein looses its structure (by a change in temp, pH, or
ionic conditions)
o Ex. Cooking eggs
21. What is a chemical reaction? What are 2 major biochemical reactions in living things?
• Chemical reactions change substances into other substances by ___________________ and/or
___________________ chemical bonds.
• Cellular _________________ and _________________ are two very common biochemical reactions.
22. What are the reactants and the products in a biochemical reaction?
• Reactants are the substances that are ___________________ during the reaction.
• Products are the substances ___________________ during the reaction.
23. What are bond energies? When is energy needed in reactions? When is energy released in reactions?
• Bond energy is the mount of energy needed to ___________________ a chemical bond
• Energy is needed in a reaction in order to ___________________bonds.
• Energy is released in a reaction when bonds ___________________.
24. Explain the activation energy in a biochemical reaction.
• Activation energy is the amount of energy needed to ___________________ a reaction.
25. How do endothermic and exothermic reactions differ?
• Endothermic reactions ___________________ more energy than they release.
• Exothermic reactions ___________________ more energy than they absorb.
26. What is a catalyst? How does it affect a biochemical reaction?
• A catalyst is a substance (often an enzyme) that lowers the ____________ ______________ needed to
___________________ a chemical reaction.
• Catalysts ___________________ the rate of chemical reactions.
27. What are enzymes? Why are enzymes important in biochemical reactions?
• Enzymes are ___________________ for biochemical reactions in living things.
• Enzymes cause biochemical reactions to happen up to a _________ times faster than it normally would.
o Ex. Breaking down ___________________ to ___________________.
28. What is the “lock-and-key” model of enzymes?
• ___________________ enzymes work only on ___________________ substrates, just like only specific
keys fit specific locks.
• If an enzyme’s ___________________ changes, it may not work at all.
o Like a ___________________ key no longer fitting a lock
29. What kinds of conditions can affect the shape and function of enzymes?
• ___________________, ________, and _______ condition changes can change the shape of an enzyme.
• If the ___________________ of the enzyme is changed, it won’t work.
o Like changing the ___________________ of a key will make it no longer fit the lock.