OrganizationThe6EssentialElements.pptVIP

Organization: The 6 Essential Elements Section 4 I. Why do living things need the six essential elements (CHNOPS)? Organization of an Organism – Living things are composed of two main types of chemical compounds: Inorganic: compounds that do not contain carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen C I. Why do living things need the six essential elements (CHNOPS)? Water – (hydrogen and oxygen) the most important inorganic compound to living organisms 60-90% of all living organisms are made of water. Ex. the most abundant compound that makes up a cell is water Most chemical reactions occur in water because it provides an optimum environment Ex. transport of molecules in the cell I. Why do living things need the six essential elements (CHNOPS)? Salts – often donate trace elements and influence the environment of the cell Ex. NaCl dissolves in solution to form Na+ and Cl- I. Why do living things need the six essential elements (CHNOPS)? Organic: compounds that DO contain carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen Carbohydrates (carbon, hydrogen, oxygen) Ex. Provide energy source for respiration (glucose) Lipids (carbon, hydrogen, oxygen) Ex. Insulate and protect organs in the body (fats) Nucleic Acids (carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen and phosphorus) Ex. Allow traits to be passed from parent to child (DNA) Proteins (carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, phosphorus) Ex. Provide specifically shaped molecules that can carry other molecules (hemoglobin carries oxygen) To Maintain Homeostasis The elements make up essential organic and inorganic compounds. Each type of molecule performs specific jobs in organisms (see examples above). Hydrogen is donated or accepted by weak acid-base pairs to regulate the pH of a system (i.e. cell, blood). These weak acid-base pairs are called buffers. I. Why do living things need the six essential elements (CHNOPS)? Buffers Regulate pH Not enough hydrogen? Here’s another H atom! Buffers can donate hydrogen Too much hydrogen? I’ll hold a hydr