Chapter 2
The Chemistry of Life

 

  1. Understand the key terms (selected vocabulary, page 89) for chapter 2.
  2. Know what elements are and if shown the periodic table, know how to figure out the number of protons, neutrons and electrons in an atom of the element.
  3. Know the general structure of atoms.  Know the location and charge of each subatomic particle.
  4. Know what the atomic number and atomic mass of an element tells you about its atoms.
  5. Know what the symbols O, C, H, N, Ca, P and S represent.
  6. Know how electron shells are filled and how the energy of an electron relates to distance from the nucleus.
  7. Understand what valence electrons are and know what role they play in chemical behavior. 
  8. Understand the octet rule.
  9. Understand what isotopes are and recognize examples.  Know whether isotopes have the same or different number of protons, neutrons, and electrons.
  10. Know what ions are and how and why they are formed.  Understand what must have happened to an atom in order for it to have become a cation or anion.
  11. Understand what electrolytes are and recognize some the most abundant electrolytes in the body.  Know some examples of the roles electrolytes play in humans and how an electrolyte imbalance can affect humans.
  12. Understand what free radicals, how they are produced and what affects they have on tissues. 
  13. Know the importance of antioxidants and the different vitamins that act as antioxidants.
  14. Understand what molecules and compounds are and be able to recognize one from the other if given examples.
  15. Understand the difference between a molecular and Structural formula.
  16. Know what structural Isomers are.
  17. Know how to calculate the molecular weight if given the molecular formula of a molecule and the atomic weight of the atoms.
  18. Know the differences between Ionic bonds, covalent bonds (polar and nonpolar) and hydrogen bonds.
  19. Know the properties of water and how hydrogen bonding contributes to these properties.
  20. Know the different types of mixtures.
  21. Know why water is referred to as the universal solvent.
  22. Understand the entire section on acids, bases and pH.  Know the relationship between pH and [H+] concentration.  Know what acids and bases are and what the pH range is for acids and bases.  If give the pH of two substances, know how much more acidic or basic one is vs. the other.  Know what buffers are and the important role they play.
  23. Know the different forms of energy and if given examples of energy, be able to recognize the type.
  24. Understand what a chemical reaction is and know what information is given in a chemical equation.  Know what the products and reactants of a reaction are if given a chemical equation.
  25. Know the classes of chemical reactions.
  26. Know the factors that determine reaction rates.
  27. Understand what metabolism means and know the difference between catabolism and anabolism.
  28. Understand oxidation-reduction reactions.
  29. Know the names of the organic molecules of life and know their functions and locations.  Know their monomers (or subunits), dimers and polymers.  Understand how the molecules are built (i.e. what reaction and what monomers are involved) and how they are broken down (i.e. what reaction and what dimers or polymers).
  30. Know about phospholipids.  Know their location, function, structure and how they interact with water.
  31. Know the monosaccharides, disaccharides and polysaccharides and know which two monosaccharides combine to make each disaccharide.  Know the functions and locations of each.
  32. Know the building blocks for proteins and know the different types of peptides and how they are formed (synthesized).  Know the functions of proteins.
  33. Undestand protein denaturation and renaturation.
  34. Know what catalysts are.  Know what enzymes are.
  35. Understand the entire section on enzymes.  Know their structure and function, how they speed up chemical reactions and what activation energy means.  Know how enzymes are usually named and know what substrates are.  Know what the active site is and what specificity means.  Know the factors that influence enzyme function.
  36. Understand how enzymatic reactions work in metabolic pathways.
  37. Know the nucleic acids and their monomers.  Know the components of a nucleotide.  Know the differences between DNA and RNA.
  38. Understand the important function of ATP.