Introduction
Learning Objectives
By the end of this section, you will be able to:
- describe matter and elements
- describe the interrelationship between protons, neutrons and electrons, and the ways in which electrons can be donated or shared between atoms
- describe the ways in which carbon is critical to life
- explain the impact of slight changes in amino acids on organisms
- describe the four major types of biological molecules
- understand the functions of the four major types of molecules
- describe the properties of water that are critical to maintaining life
Introduction
The elements carbon (C), hydrogen (H), nitrogen (N), oxygen (O), sulphur (S) and phosphorus (P) are the key building blocks of the chemicals that form all living things. Each possesses unique properties, and these properties allow elements to combine and to bond with each other in specific ways.
These elements form the carbohydrates, nucleic acids, proteins, and lipids that are the fundamental molecular components of all organisms. Food provides a number of these important building blocks and many of these critical nutrients are in the form of biological macromolecules – the large molecules made from the key chemical building blocks – needed for survival.
