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Chapter 3 Matter, Energy, And Life . Matter Is Made Of Atoms, Molecules, And Compounds . Atom: simplest building block of chemicals Element: a material composed of identical atoms Compound: a combination of atoms in a fixed arrangement and proportion
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Matter Is Made Of Atoms, Molecules, And Compounds • Atom: simplest building block of chemicals • Element: a material composed of identical atoms • Compound: a combination of atoms in a fixed arrangement and proportion • Molecule: The simplest chemical unit of a compound (O2, H2O, CH4, C6H12O6 etc.) • Many materials (NaCl) don’t have molecules
Chemical Formulas • Most Elements have symbols that are common sense: H (Hydrogen), Si (Silicon), etc. • Some, known in ancient times, have symbols from Latin: Fe (Ferrum = Iron), Au (Aurum = Gold), Na (Natrium= lye, for Sodium) • C6H12O6 = Glucose = 6 Carbon, 12 Hydrogen, 6 Oxygen • SiO2 = Quartz = 2 Oxygen for each Silicon
Electrical Charge Is An Important Chemical Characteristic • Atoms contain three kinds of particles: • Protons (+) in the nucleus. Number of protons determines what an element is • Neutrons (0) in the nucleus. Bind the nucleus together • Electrons (-) orbiting the nucleus • Group together into shells • This is what interacts with other atoms • Atoms can gain or lose electrons and become electrically charged (Ions)
Chemical Bonds Hold Molecules Together • Ionic: Ions of opposite charge attract each other. Example: NaCl, most minerals • Covalent: Atoms share electrons with neighbors. Example: Most carbon chemicals • Metallic: Electrons wander freely between atoms. Positive atoms held together by negative electron “glue” • Hydrogen: H and O in water molecules attracted to neighbors
Chemical Bonds Hold Molecules Together • Ionic bonding holds most rocks and minerals together • Covalent bonding holds living things together • Metallic bonding holds industrial civilization together • Hydrogen bonding gives water its solvent and heat-storing capacity
Elements Of Life • C, H, O, N, P, S are principal elements of life • Some elements like C can share more than one electron with a neighbor (multiple bonding) • Some elements like Fe and S can gain or lose electrons in more than one way • These versatile atoms can be used for • Energy storage • Information storage • Triggering chemical reactions
Elements and Life • Some very abundant elements have no biological uses (Al, Si, Ti) • Some elements are essential in low amounts but toxic at greater levels (Cu, Se) • Everything is toxic at excessive levels • Some elements are toxic and have no biological functions (Lead, Mercury)
Organic Compounds Have A Carbon Backbone • Organic compounds contain carbon as their basic structural core • Chains (Petroleum) • Rings (Benzene, Toluene) • Simple carbon-bearing chemicals aren’t considered Organic • CH4: Methane • CO2: Carbon Dioxide • CaCO3: Calcite, the Main Constituent of Limestone
Cells Are The Fundamental Units Of Life • Cell Membrane: Contains contents and processes, excludes foreign objects (mostly) • Nucleus: Where DNA resides • Simplest organisms lack nucleus • Mitochondria • Not to be confused with Midichlorians (MTFBWY) • Produce Energy for Cell • Have their own DNA • Probably originated as independent organisms
Energy • Energy Occurs In Different Types And Qualities • Thermodynamics Regulates Energy Transfers • Energy For Life • Extremophiles Live In Severe Conditions • Green Plants Get Energy From The Sun • Photosynthesis Captures Energy While Respiration Releases That Energy
Thermodynamics Regulates Energy Transfers • First Law: Energy is Not Created or Destroyed • Can Change Form • Matter and Energy can be converted • Second Law: Entropy increases • Entropy is often likened to disorder but is not entirely the same • Entropy can decrease at expense of surroundings
From Species To Ecosystems • Organisms Occur In Populations, Communities, And Ecosystems • Food Chains, Food Webs, And Trophic Levels Link Species • Ecological Pyramids Describe Trophic Levels
Reasons to be a ”Water chauvinist". • Stays liquid over a wide range of temperatures. • Polar or asymmetrical molecule. Attracts ions easily - Good transporter of nutrients • Does not dissolve organic molecules (so we do not dissolve in our own cell fluids)
Material Cycles And Life Processes • Sources: supply elements for life and physical processes • Example: Burning vegetation releases CO2 • Sinks: remove materials from environment • Example: Plants remove CO2 from the air • Limestone removes CO2 from the air • Residence Time: How long an average atom or molecule remains in a system • Example: Water molecule in air, 10 days
Material Cycles on the Earth • The Hydrologic Cycle Moves Water Around The Earth • Oceans – Atmosphere – Land - Ocean • Nutrient Cycles • Ultimate Source: Rocks • Released by Weathering • Taken up by Biosphere • Transported by Water or Atmosphere • Sinks: Atmosphere, Deep Oceans, Rocks
Reasons to be a "Carbon chauvinist". • Can bond to four neighboring atoms • Can bond to other carbon atoms, sharing one, two, or three electrons • These properties make it possible to form a vast array of organic molecules • No other element has these properties
Carbon in the Earth • Volcanoes emit carbon dioxide • Carbonate rocks lock up carbon dioxide • Ancient biomass locked up carbon as coal, petroleum, natural gas
Carbon in the Biosphere Plants use sunlight, H2O, CO2 to create organic molecules: • 6 H2O + 6 CO2 + energy C6H12O6 (glucose) + 6O2 (toxic waste) Animals run the reactions in reverse: • C6H12O6 (glucose) + 6O2 6 H2O + 6 CO2 + energy • Also use organic molecules directly (vitamins)
Carbon Cycles • Plant – Animal Cycle • Decay returns CO2 to atmosphere • Marine organisms fix CO2 in carbonate rocks • Weathering returns CO2 to atmosphere • Some C fixed in rocks long-term as carbonates or fossil fuel • Humans burn fossil fuel and add (not return) CO2 to atmosphere
The Carbonate-Silicate Cycle • Earth has almost as much carbon dioxide as Venus • Volcanoes add carbon dioxide to the atmosphere • Mountain-building favors cooling • Carbon dioxide is removed from the air to make carbonate rocks • “Icehouse” and “Greenhouse” episodes
The Paradox of Nitrogen • It makes up 79% of the atmosphere • Most plants cannot use N2 • Nitrogen converted to usable forms by specialized microorganisms • Human use of nitrogen • Nitrogen-fixing plants (Legumes) • Natural fertilizers (Guano, Nitrate Minerals) • Synthetic nitrates (Haber Process)
Sulfur in the Earth • Sulfide minerals: ores, pyrite • Volcanic emissions: H2S, SO2 • Coal: pyrite, organic sulfur • Petroleum: organic sulfur
From Earth to Environment • Volcanic emissions: H2S, SO2 • Microbial action • Weathering • Natural exposures • Mine waste • Smelting • Fossil Fuels
Acid Rain • S + O2 = SO2 (sulfur dioxide) • 2SO2 + O2 = 2SO3 (sulfur trioxide) • SO3 + H2O = H2SO4 (sulfuric acid) • Forms by smelting or burning fossil fuels
Acid Rain • pH: Measure of acidity • 0 = extremely acid (Muriatic Acid) • 7 = neutral • 14 = extremely alkaline (Lye) • Normal water in air is 5.5 (Carbonic Acid) • Acid rain can be pH 3 or less • Ca and Mg neutralize acid (Limestone, Dolomite, some volcanic rocks) • Rocks poor in Ca and Mg cannot neutralize acid (Granite)
Phosphorus in the Earth • Most common limiting factor for life • Mostly in apatite Ca5(Cl,F)(PO4)3 • Granites • Phosphate Rock (recycled biological P) • Released by: • Weathering • Mining (for fertilizer)
Phosphorus on Land • Phosphorus in Soil • Uptake by plants • Consumption by animals • Return to soil via plant and animal waste, decay • Some lost by runoff
Phosphorus in Water • Essential to aquatic life • Excess causes eutrophication • Runaway productivity, excess oxygen demand • Return to water via plant and animal waste, decay • Some ends up in sediments (Chitin, Bone) • Sedimentary P returns to land via uplift, plate tectonics • Human-Applied P goes to Oceans (Sink)
Distinctive Aspects of the P Cycle • No Atmospheric Component • Geologic Portion of Cycle Very Slow • Mostly involves biological transfers • P in oceans not recycled quickly • Human use: Rocks – Fertilizer – Oceans • Not Recycled • Peak Phosphorus? • Phosphorus (Fertilizer) • Morocco, China, South Africa, Jordan, U.S. = 90% of World Reserves