Chemical Compounds in

CellsLesson 2

Energy BackpacksSome people think a camel’s humps carry water. NOT true! They actually store fat. A hump’s fatty tissue supplies energy when the camel doesn’t eat. When a camel has enough food, the hump remains hard and round. But when food is limited, the hump gets smaller and may fall to the side. If the camel then gets more food, the hump can regain its full size and shape in about three of four months.

Energy BackpacksDiscuss the following questions and answer.

How do you think having humps has helped camels survive?

How do you think the camel might be affected if it didn't have humps?

What foods do you eat for energy?

What foods do you think you SHOULD eat for energy?

What are Elements and Compounds?

We are made up of many substances, called Elements.

Element: Any substance that cannot be broken down into simpler substances.

Elements found in the body:

Carbon (C); Hydrogen (H); Oxygen (O);

Nitrogen (N)

**sometimes Phosphorus (P); Sulfur (S)

What are Elements and Compounds?

Atom: The smallest unit of an element.

Any single element is made up of only one kind of atom.

Ex. The element Oxygen (O) is ONLY made up of Oxygen atoms!! The element Hydrogen (H) is ONLY made up of Hydrogen atoms!! The element Carbon (C) is ONLY made up of Carbon atoms!!

**Is Water H2O an element?...

What are Elements and Compounds?

NO…Water is not an element… it is a compound.

Compound: Forms when two or more elements combine chemically.

Hydrogen (H)-- Element Oxygen (O) -- Element

H2O – Compound

Water has two elements combined chemically.

Carbon (C) – Element Oxygen (O) – Element

CO2 – Compound

Carbon dioxide has two elements combined chemically.

What Compounds Do Cells Need?

Every cell must either make or absorb some compounds to survive.

Many of the compounds in living things contain the element Carbon (C).

Organic Compounds: Compounds that contain Carbon (C).

Necessary Organic Compounds for cells: Carbohydrates, Lipids, Proteins and Nucleic Acids.

What Compounds Do Cells Need?

Inorganic Compounds: Compounds that do not contain carbon.

Ex. Water and Table Salt

Carbohydrates: Energy-rich organic compounds made of the elements carbon, hydrogen and oxygen.

Ex. Pasta, Potatoes, Rice, Bread, Fruit, Milk, Candy

When you break down foods that contain carbohydrates starches that are in these foods turn into sugar that your cells use to get energy.

What Compounds Do Cells Need?

Lipids: Compounds that are made mostly of carbon, and hydrogen and some oxygen.

Ex. Fats, Oils, Waxes, (whole milk, ice cream)

Fats and oils contain more energy than carbohydrates. Cells store energy from fats and oils for later use.

What Compounds Do Cells Need?

Proteins: Large organic molecules made of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and sometimes sulfur.

Ex. Meat, Dairy products, Fish, Nuts, Beans

Most of a cell’s structure and function depends on proteins. Proteins form part of a cell’s membrane and make up parts of the organelles within a cell.

Enzymes: A group of proteins that speed up chemical reactions in living things.

** Without enzymes all the chemical reactions that are necessary for life would take a REALLY long time**

Ex. We have enzymes in our saliva which speeds up digestion!

What Compounds Do Cells Need?

Nucleic Acids: Very long organic molecules.

These molecules consist of: Carbon, Oxygen, Hydrogen, Nitrogen and Phosphorus.

Nucleic Acids contain the instructions that cells need to carry out all the functions of life.

Foods high in nucleic acids: Red meat, Shellfish, Mushrooms, Peas

DNA is an example of a nucleic acid.

What Compounds Do Cells Need?

DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid): Genetic material that carries information about an organism and is passed from parent to offspring.

Chromatin is made of long strands of DNA wrapped around proteins.

Directs a cell’s function

Found in a cell’s nucleus

DNA shape: Double Helix

Water and Living ThingsTwo thirds of the human body is WATER!

Most chemical reactions in cells depend on substances that MUST BE dissolved in water to react.

Helps cells keep their shape.

Helps keep the temperature of cells from changing rapidly. (water’s temp. changes slowly)

Water plays a key role in carrying substances into and out of cells.