|
Introduction to Cell & Molecular Biology
(BIOL121) - Dr. S.G. Saupe (ssaupe@csbsju.edu); Biology Department, College of St. Benedict/St. John's
University, Collegeville, MN 56321 |
General Chemistry
Study
Guide
Life is nothing more, nothing less, than the
structural organization of certain molecules.
B. Rensberger
Science
80 |
Required Readings:
Freeman Chapter 2
Supplemental Readings:
(copies available in the file box in the botany lab)
-
Frieden, E.
1972. The Chemical Elements of Life.
Scientific
American. June.
An
interesting article concerning the elements of life, their function and factors
in their selection.
-
Morowitz,
H. 1979. The Six Million Dollar Man. In The
Wine of Life.
A great essay concerning the molecular constituents of life and their
relation to the laws of thermodynamics.
-
Morowitz,
H. 1979. Manufacturing A Living Organism.
In
The Wine of Life.
Another great essay concerning the
possibility of creating life in a test tube.
-
Rensberger,
B. 1980. Life In Limbo. Science 80.
A
super essay about freezing and dehydration experiments.
Goal
of The Unit: The goal of this unit is to study the basic chemical
building blocks of living systems and to understand how they are arranged and
held together.
Important Terms/Concepts: (Can you
use them conversationally?)
-
adhesion
-
anion
-
atom
-
atomic number
-
bond
-
cation
-
cohesion
-
covalent bond
-
electron
|
-
hydrogen bond
-
hydrophilic
-
hydrophobic
-
inorganic
-
ion
-
ionic bond
-
isotope
-
mass number
-
neutron
-
nucleus
|
-
orbital
-
organic
-
polar
-
proton
|
Concept Map
Prepare a concept map using the
following terms: atom, electron,
polar bond, nucleus, proton, neutron, atomic number, mass number, isotope,
orbital, covalent bond, hydrogen bond, inorganic, organic, ionic bond, carbon,
hydrogen, nitrogen, valence
Specific Learning Objectives: Upon completion of this unit you should be able to):
-
Define atom, element, atomic number and mass
number. Use each in a sentence.
- Describe the basic structure of an atom.
- Describe how electrons are arranged in an atom.
- Compare and contrast ionic, covalent and hydrogen bonding (i.e., strength,
response in water, biological importance) and provide examples of each.
- Explain the difference between single, double and triple covalent bonds.
- Name the three or four most common elements in living systems.
What are some common elements in: (a) the
universe, (b) seawater and (c) the earth's crust.
- Compare and contrast organic and inorganic.
- Discuss the importance of carbon and why evolution favored carbon over
silicon as the basis for life.
- Explain why "proton" is a synonym for "hydrogen ion"
- Explain what is meant by "functional group"
- Explain the following symbols used in writing chemical structures: R
- Identify the type of bond that holds together atoms in a functional group
- Explain why carboxyl groups are acidic
- Explain what it means that an atom is electronegative. Give an example
- Describe the difference between a polarized and non-polarized covalent
bond
- Name two atoms likely to participate in a polarized covalent bond (hint:
nitrogen is one)
- Identify the factors that led to favorability of C, H, O, N as the major
elements in living systems. In other words, what's so special about them?
And what's not suitable about the other 90+ elements?
- Explain what it means that "life is chemically unique".
- Explain what determines the chemical properties of an atom
- Compare and contrast hydrogen, tritium and deuterium.
- Identify several biological functions of water
- Describe the structure of a carbon atom.
Use such terms as energy shells (levels), orbitals, inner and outer
shells, nucleus, valence, electrons, protons, neutrons, as many other terms
as possible that are appropriate.
- Define isotope. Give an
example. How are isotopes
useful in biology? Give some
examples. Explain why the
chemical properties of a radioactive isotope are identical to the chemical
properties of a non-radioactive isotope of the same element.
- For each of the three major bond types - ionic, covalent and hydrogen -
define each, indicate the strength of each, the response of each to water,
and give examples of their function.
Explain
why there is more than one type of bond; or in other words, why aren�t all
bonds covalent?
- Draw some atoms or molecules joined by:
covalent bonds; ionic bonds; hydrogen bonds
- Explain the difference between single, double and triple covalent bonds.
- Little Oblio, the boy in the Land of the Point, met the Rock People.
Explain why they couldn�t exist.
In other words, why couldn�t life be based on silicon?
When you are finished studying, rent the video (Harry Nillson) and
relax.
- Memorize the atomic number and mass number of the most common isotope of
C, H, O, N. Indicate the number
of electrons and protons in each atom.
How many neutrons occur in each?
What is the maximum number of covalent bonds that each can form with
another atom?
- Define electronegative. Give
an example.
- What is the difference between a polarized and non-polarized covalent
bond? Why do bonds become
polarized? Name the atoms most
likely to participate in a polarized covalent bond.
- If NASA sent you to Mars to search for life what elements would you look
for and why? What if you
conclude if you found a little bit of carbon?
Or nitrogen?
- Identify the factors that led to favorability of C, H, O, N as the major
elements in living systems. In other words, what's so special about them?
And what's not suitable about the other 90+ elements?
It has even been suggested that life evolved as a
means of transporting water.
Even Cowgirls Get the Blues
T. Robbins |
Sample Exam
Questions:
1. If an atom
has a mass number of 15 and an atomic number of 7, then this atom would most
likely possess _____ electrons,_____ protons and _____neutrons.
A. 7, 8, 7
B.
15, 7, 8
C.
7, 7, 8
D. 15, 15, 8
E.
8, 15, 7
2. Which one
of the following elements is least common in living systems?
A.
Carbon
B. Hydrogen
C. Oxygen
D. Nitrogen
E. Sulfur
3. The number of ______ never varies among atoms of
a specific element.
A. Protons
B. Neutrons
C. Electrons
4. The number of ______ varies in the isotopes of
an element.
A. Protons
B. Neutrons
C. Electrons
5. The most ancient fossils found to date are
approximately ______ years old.
6. Which four elements make up 96% of matter found
in living organisms?
7. A cation has a ______ charge.
a. positive
b. negative
c. neutral
8. In a reduction-oxidation reaction, a substance
that loses electrons is _____.
a. oxidized
b. reduced c. ionized
Last updated: July 14, 2009
� Copyright by SG Saupe