You are on page 1of 2

LI F E,S CHEMICAL BAS I S

WhatAre YouWarth?
rlo y woodt hr r k ! L e c n a rd . rr C .,frl orsw o rtl rS 2 0mj l l .n p . r m olr e t he Y a rl e e s u rl fI i rrc rtl to t Al e r R o d fgrr]: l s wor llrl2lT m r ll ro n p e rd ..a i e ,a rd th e L l ri te d Si ar.! th lf l5 ihe av er ag te e a .h .r j s w o d tr 9 4 4 ,1 6p 7e ry e ar a he. iic ally t. loug h . h o \4mL ,{ :h l 5th e h u ma nb o d } rci l l y t a. h of us I t a.o l e .l o f o fe l e me n i s o rfrl n d r' r ental 5 ubs t ar . es ih3t ei r.l r c o n 5 i n o fo n l y o n .k i rdo fa tom.A r at omr st he s m ali e n u n rto f a n e l e me nth t a i !tl I rcra' r,5 theelem ent e pr o l e rtre 5t o ..L ti e s s p a o .h j s m:r, afd .annotbe br ok e.d .w n l rt. s .m e th rn q .l i e rt e :n by or \ ' q. f . . ar bor ,h y d ro o e n n l tr.q e n , a rd .a r.ru mrre tf. m a n e ener t s rn c rg a rrs m s N e ti a rerh o s p h crLs. p. ias s ilm ,s ulf ur, s .d ru m a n d.h l .ri re T h e re rre a ot.r tr r . eer em ent e ea .nm a k i n g !p l e s 5 th a r 0 .0 rp .r.n t .it hebc dy s wer g fi s e l e fi rmi n d e a d a re e l a m p l .s Ur alt a m r r uie 5 e l e ri u h , e a d ,m e rc u rya , Ee .i . , a.d m dnyot here em e n ts a r. to x i .. rl q n tl s . h o w .a r ihey be par t of t he . c lle. tro n tl 4 re ' re i rn d i n ath a t tra .. a m ount5

Pr.sph.n,r PorassLr

73000 Oraris til) r.10 00 q

M a q n eu sm

1900!

7240 m

:i rar.,T.r)

f. C l 296l

MaiqaieBe

t2 00 mq

Figure 2.1 (al \rlhal are !o! licrth crcm ca y (bi Pr.p orio .s o 'the m os l. . m r i. n - aen. nls n bo.ry Earihs ctrrst and se?!!a:e H.w ar-.lF.r!

_.'..=::_

I M P A C T S ,I S S UES

Concepts
A TOMS A N D E LE ME N Ts An elemenlis a ilndamentals!bslance nradeof one lype oi alom The alomis lhe smallesl !n t of an elemenlthat sti rctalns the elemenlsproperlies, and ils buildng blocksare protons, reclrons, and neulfons. Isotopes are alornsol an eLemenl thatvary n lhe nurnberof neulrons. Seclions 2 1 2.2 W H YE LE C TR ON MA S TTE R Alomsacqure share, and g ve up eleclrons. Whetrrer one atomw I bondwith ollrersdepends on the nlmber and a(angement ol lts electrons seclion2 3 of at least sorneofthem havevitalfunctions. Forinstance, evenalitUe selenlumistoxic, but ioolitue can causehean problemr and thyroid disorderr. 5uprficially, then, the human body can beviewed as a balanced collectionofelements.The amounts are worth ro no' e { h, n < 1' 8 51 .a 1 drh e ti -d s a rero t e v e r u ri qLe. they occurin Earti's crust and evenseawater(Figure2.1b). However, tire propolttors ofelements in hunans and other orqanisnrs aie unique relativeto nonliving tlings. Loot at allofthat carbon,for instanc | Alro,you willnever find a clod of dirt or a volume ofseawaterthat comescloseto the sttucturct andfunctianal organization of aliving bady. Assembling that collectior ofelements into an o.ganized, operationalbodytales a fabulousmolecularlibiary (DNA), erzymesand other metabolicworlers, andlaige, ongojng inputs ofenergy (lust asl anypregiait woman). Remember this wh en someone tries to ray"chemistry" has nothingtodowiUr you.lt ha5everlthjngto do Mth you. Pople, jet fuel, tootfpaste,turreys,refrigeratorr, health,diseare, acid rain,nervegas,old-growth corsages, 'orests ndmFany lvrng o. ^onlivingbit oftle universe and chemistry is part ofjt. A TOMS B ON D Thbondi ng behavl or ol b ol ogcal moecues st ar t s wt h t he n!mbr and arangemenlol e eclfonsin eachtypeof atom. on c, covaenl,and hydrogen bondsare the rnaincategores ol bondsbelween atoms n boogica molecules.Seclion 2.4 N O W A TE R N , O LIFE Lile originaled in wale!,ands adaptedlo ts properties. Water has temperatlre ng ellects.lvanykindsof substances stabiriz d ssol ve easi y n L W al er aso show s cohes ion. Sect on25 H Y D R OGE ON N s R U LE L ie dependson preciscontrols overthe format on use and butfering oi hydrogenons Seclon2.6

i1t Earlier Concepts


Wllhthis clrapl(w stan al lhe baseol liles leves oi ofganizal on so lake a rnornenl lo revew llre simpe clrart in secrio " lr all sra.rsw Ih arors a-d ._erSy L:le< organizallon rcquiros lapping nto a grealone-way llow (1.2). oi enerqyand stoing r n bondsberween arorns The chapteraso has a simpleexampeof howthe body'sblilt-in rnechanisms he p rel!rn the inlernal env ronrnenl to a homeostatic slatewhncondilons shilrbyonclranges rhatce s can to erate(1.2)

How Woulil YouVote?


Fluotide hetpsprcvent tooth dacay. But too nuch wrecks banes and teeth, and causes bitth datects A lot can kill yau Many cammunitiesin the United Statesadd rluoride b hen supply ot drinkjng wate. Do you want it in yours? See BiologyNow tat details, then vote ontine

You might also like