Chemistry of Life Test

Organic Compound

A compound that contains carbon.

What percent of the weight of a typical animal is oxygen?

About 63% of a typical animal.

What present of the weight of a typical plant is oxygen?

About 77% of a typical plant.

Phosphorus

Abundant in nature and is never found in it's elemental state. Considered essential for life serves as a key building blocks in DNA, Nervous Tissue and Bone. Necessary for life. Compound of ATP for most living things. Humans have one pound of phosphorus in their body. Comprises just under 1% of a plant or an animal.

Why is hydrogen the most abundant element in the universe, not found in earth's atmosphere?

Hydrogen gas is so light that it easily escapes the earth's gravity at the upper edges of the atmosphere and is lost into outer space.

What are the six most abundant element in living things?

Hydrogen, Oxygen, Carbon, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Calcium and Sulfur.

Hydrogen

Building block from which all other element are made. Is a gas, most abundant element in the universe and are considered essential to life. Plants and animals are about 10% hydrogen by weight. 90% of the atoms and three quarters of the mass of the universe.

What elements do these symbols represent?

C- Carbon H- Hydrogen N- Nitrogen O- Oxygen P- Phosphorus S- Sulfur

What of these six elements is the "backbone" of living organisms?

Carbon and Hydrogen = Hydrocarbons

Carbon

Carbon is combined with other elements to form carbohydrates, proteins, fats and many other substances in living organisms. Fourth and highly most abundant throughout the entire universe and arguably the most important element. Considered essential for life only element capable of forming the complex molecular structures on which all life forms are based. Six most common element in the universe. Combined with other elements to form carbohydrates, fats and proteins. Comprises about 19% of the weight of a typical animal And about 12% of the weight of a typical plant.

Carbohydrates

Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen Are the body's main source of fuel. They give us our energy. They're needed for our body to function properly.

Fats

Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen Energy, absorbing certain vitamins, maintaining cell membranes.

Proteins

Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, Nitrogen, Sulfur Tissue growth and repair, maintaining immune system, making essential hormones and enzymes.

Sulfur

Essential for life, is a key component in many proteins and largely responsible for their structural integrity (Proteins). Can occur in amino acid.

Calcium

Fifth most abundant element in earth's crust, is never found in its elemental from in nature. Makes up about 2% of the weight of a mammal such as a rabbit because its one of the principal elements of the hard part of bone and is important in the contraction of muscle.

Nitrogen

Seventh and fifth most abundant element in the universe and considered essential to life. Primary molecule in all proteins. Is a gas that makes up 78% of the earth's atmosphere and important to living things as a component of genes and proteins. Constitutes about 4% of an animal And 1% of a plant. Human body is made up of 2.5% nitrogen by weight.

Oxygen

Third most abundant element on the earth's surface and in the universe. Makes up your fats and proteins. Cellular respiration and photosynthesis. Is a gas and its 16 times as heavy as hydrogen. Makes up approximately 21% of the earth's atmosphere and considered essential to life. Makes up about 63% of a typical animal About 77% of a typical plant.