Chemical Elements and Water

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IB Biology SL III                                                                Ryan Martucci

Topic: 2 – The Chemistry of Life                                  Date:  11/15/02     Period:  8

Sub-topic:  2.1 – Chemical Elements and Water

2.1.1        1        State that the most frequently occurring chemical elements in living things

are carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen.

The most frequent occurring chemical elements in living things are first

oxygen, which is 65% of organisms, then carbon that is 18.5 % of

organisms, and then hydrogen, which is 9.5%.

2.1.2        1        State that a variety of other elements are needed by living organisms

including nitrogen, calcium, phosphorus, iron, and sodium.

A variety of other elements are needed by living organisms including

nitrogen, calcium, phosphorus, iron, and sodium.  Nitrogen is the fourth

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most needed element making up 3.3% of the organisms and the other

elements named make up part of the 8% of trace elements.

2.1.3        1        State one role for each of the elements mentioned in 2.1.2.

Nitrogen is responsible for the synthesis of proteins from amino acids, and

synthesis of coenzymes.  Phosphorus is responsible for the synthesis of

nucleic acids ATP and built into bone.  Sulfer is responsible for the

synthesis of proteins.  Calcium is responsible for middle lamella formation

between plant cells, a constituent of bone, used ...

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