Biology 233
Biology for engineer
Dr Alexis Nzila
Asst. Professor
Chapter 2: Chemical basis of life
For a 70Kg human body
in percentage (%)
50% water (H2O)
> 94% of life
Oxygen (O)= 61
Carbon (C)= 23 50% Compounds containing C
Hydrogen (H)=10
Nitrogen (N)= 2.6
Calcium (Ca)= 1.4
Phosphorous (P)= 1.1
Potassium (K)= 0.2
Sulfur (S)= 0.2
- Water (H2O)
* Polarity:
O= more electronegative than H
O = pulls electrons towards it, becomes more negative
and H more positive= water is a dipole
----
n d- +++
t ro +++
c O
El e
H H
d+ d+ Water is polar molecule
Important and critical implications in biology
Polarity of water: Hydrophobicity and Hydrophilicity
H=could easily form H bond with other polar molecular
(with negative atom)
polar molecules= hydrophilic : water- loving (love or like water)
non polar= hydrophobic : water-dreading: hate water
Essential in the formation of the cellular membrane
1.2.1.1. Polarity of water: Temperature stabilising effects
Polarity of water : maintain temperature constant (homeostasis)
Homeostasis= capacity of the cell to maintain constant key parameters essential for life,
(including temperature)
- -+ +
equilibrium
4+ +
-
+ +- Hydrogen bond
+
+ +
If heat increases +
(temperature up)
*Heat will be break the H bond
**thus absorbing the heat, no increase in temperature in the medium
**maintaining the overall temperature constant..
Polarity of Water: As a solvent properties
Solvent= substance that dissolves other substances
Water= good solvent (because polar) for ionic and polar molecules
For ionic molecule= sphere of hydration..
-
+
+
+
+ H20
-
Na+ Cl- Na+ Cl-
+
+
-
-
+
+
+
+
+
+
-
+
-
Complete dissolution Na+
-
Cl-
+
+
-
in water + +
+
+
+ +
(sphere of hydration)
Water polar property: Cohesion of Water
Hydrogen bonding :
* molecules of water make water resist separating from one another
Role: rise of the water (containing nutrients) inside vascular plant tissues
Concept of acid, base, pH and buffer system,
* Acid= donates H
* Base= receives H
pH= reflects H+ concentration in the medium
= -log (H+)
Strong and weak acids and base
Ka
HA H+ + A- Strong acid Weak acid
Ka= [H+][A-]
HA
pKa= -log Ka
complete dissociation Partial dissociation
(HCl, pKa= -8) Acetic acid pKa= 5
Same with base…
pOH ( pH + pOH=14)
Kb, pKb
Strong base (NaOH)
weak bases (NH3)
pH scale
Acid Base
1 14
Gastric acid 7 NaOH
(HCL) bleach
Buffer system: only for weak acid or base (acid/conjugate base
and base/conjugate acid)
HA= acid
A-= conjugate base Ka
Formation of HA
HA H+ + A- Decrease of H+
Ka
HA H+ + A- Formation of H+
HA H +A
+ -
Decrease of OH
Ka= [H+][A-]
HA +OH- H20 formation
pH= pKa + log (A-/HA)
(Henderson–Hasselbalch equation) Buffer effect
pH is maintained constant around the pKa value of (+1)
In the body=
pH is maintained by carbonic acid pKa= 6.4,
and regulates human blood pH=7.3-7.5
Exercise=
I have 100 ml of 1M NaOH at pH= 12, and 10 ml of 0,1 M, HCl at pH=1
Can I make a buffer solution of pH 11.5?
Radioactivity in biology .
Radioisotopes (Isotopes): atoms that emit particles as radiation
For instance 14
C ( normal is 12C)
Isotope and non-isotope= same chemical property
thus, 14 C can replaced 12C
Isotopes:
* used in research and medicine (as tracer)
to monitor absorption, transport, secretion, metabolisms ect..
* used to approximate the age of rock, fossils etc…
- radiation decays at a constant rate
--thus, remaining radiation= possible to know the date of the initial
radioactivity
Homeostasis
Homeostasis (homeo= "similar“ and stasis,="standing still") is the property of a
system that regulates its internal environment and tends to maintain a stable,
constant condition of properties.
In more evolved organisms:
* this homeostasis is most complex,
** and encompass all important and vital functions
Ex. of homeostasis: maintaining temperature and pH…
General principle
Stimulus
Integrator Effectors
receptor (muscle or organ)
(brain)
Feedback
Negative
Response
Example of homeostasis
Stimulus
Body temperature goes up
On hot dry day Integrator Effectors
(brain [hypothalamus]) (glands trigger adjustment
Trigger
(Stimulus) analyse the signal in active of many organs)
Receptor
Negative feedback Effectors
=stop Chest muscle will contract more frequently
* faster breathing
Response * heat transfer from lung to air
Decrease of body surface Blood vessels in skin expand and skin muscles relax
* more heat on the surface of the skin
** more heat exchange outside
Sweat gland secretion increase
* increase evaporation of the sweet
* cooling of body surface
Adrenal gland secretion drop off;
excitement decreases, less activity, less heat
