Download Chapter 2 – Chemistry of Life and the Cell

Chapter 2 – Chemistry of Life and the Cell
Attributes of a living organism include: growth, movement, reproduction, response to
stimuli, and metabolism.
All living things are able to maintain homeostasis.
Living organisms are made up of molecules based on the element carbon and combined
with many other elements.
All elements are made of atoms.
All atoms are made of:
1. Protons
2. Neutrons
3. Electrons
Atoms can bind together to form molecules such as glucose C6H12O6.
The three types of chemical bonds are:
1. Covalent bonding
2. Ionic bonding
3. Hydrogen bonding
Water (H2O) is one of the most important molecules to life on this planet.
1. Water is a good solvent
2. Water is polar
3. Water is Cohesive
Molecules that are hydrophobic do not mix with water i.e. oil and fats. Those that are
hydrophilic mix well with water.
The pH scale indicates the concentration of H+ or OH-.
1. Low pH is acidic and has more H+
2. High pH is basic and has more OHProkaryotic organisms are one celled and have no nucleus, bacteria is an example of this
kind of cell.
Eukaryotic organisms are made up of one or more nucleated cells that contain organelles
that perform specific functions. An example of a eukaryote is the human.
The Cell is the basic unit of life.
The eukaryotic cell is made up of the following structures:
 Plasma membrane – Membrane that surrounds the cell.
 Nucleus – Spherical structure in eukaryotic cells that contains chromatin
 Lysosome – Membrane-enclosed sac that contains digestive enzymes
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Ribosomes – Two piece structure which aids in translation of DNA
Endoplasmic reticulum(ER) – folded membranes coming off of the nucleus which
have sections called rough ER and smooth ER.
Golgi apparatus – Stacks of membranes in the cytosol.
Mitochondria – A membrane folded within a membrane, location of most of cell
respiration.