By Prof. Liwayway Memije-Cruz

Life substances are substances, which contain the life or food, which vivifies and sustains. But those who fail to receive these life-giving substances will, sooner or later, realize their necessity Carlos Kozel

 

mnemonics

Hydrogen

(H) - a component of organic molecules and influences the pH of the body fluids.

Carbon

Carbon (C) - the primary elemental component of all organic compounds, including carbohydrates, proteins, lipids and acids.

Nitrogen Oxygen

(N) - a component of proteins and nucleic acids (genetic materials).

(O) - a major component of both organic and inorganic molecules as a gas, essential to the oxidation of glucose and other food fuels during which cellular energy (ATP) is produced.

Sodium Magnesium

(Na) as an ion is the major extracellular cation. It is important for water balance, conduction of nerve impulse and muscle contraction.

(Mg) - present in bones and important cofactor for enzyme activity in a number of metabolic reactions.

Phosphorus Sulfur

(P) - present as salt in combination with calcium in bones and teeth. Present in nucleic acids and many proteins. Forms part of the high-energy compound adenosine triphosphate (ATP)

(S) is a component of contractile proteins of muscles.

Chlorine Potassium

(Cl) is a major extracellular anion. if in ionic form.

(K) if in its ionic form the major intracellular cation is necessary for the conduction of nerve impulses and for muscle contraction.

Calcium Iron

(Ca) is a mineral found in bones, teeth and other body tissues.

It is indispensable and critical for normal cell function, blood clotting, dental and skeletal health, muscle contraction, nerve signal transmission and proper heart function.

. The dietary sources of calcium are milk, and milk products, like cheese, yogurt, dark green leafy vegetables, broccoli, breakfast wheat and bran cereals, beans, nuts, grains, canned salmon and sardines.

Iron (Fe) - its main role in the body is in the red blood cells where it combines with a protein to form a substance called hemoglobin.

Carbohydrates means hydrated carbons; examples are glucose (C6 H12O6) and ribose (C5H10O5). They provide an easy and ready to use source of food.

MonosaccharidesMonosaccharides are commonly referred to as simple sugars. Examples are:

Glucose – blood sugar which is the universal cellular fuel Fructose - converted to glucose for used by body cells. Galactose Ribose - form part of the structure of nucleic acids. Deoxyribose Disaccharides are referred to as double sugars. Some of the important

disaccharides in the diet include:  Sucrose (glucose-fructose), which is cane sugar. Lactose (glucose-galactose) found in milk. Maltose (glucose-glucose) malt sugar.Polysaccharide, which literally means much sugar, is a polymer of linked

monosaccharides. Examples are starch and glycogen. Starch is the storage polysaccharide formed by plants as starchy foods like grains and root vegetables (potatoes and carrots). Glycogen is found in animal tissues like in the muscles and the liver.

Proteins are complex nitrogenous substances that are accounted for over 50% of the organic matter in the body. Amino Acids are small molecules that are the building blocks of proteins. 20 common types of amino acids are found in the body. The amino acids released through protein digestion are absorbed and used to build the body’s proteins. Of the common amino acids, eight are essential amino acids. Our body cannot build these molecules; they should be obtained from the diet.

Lipids are organic compounds composed of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. They are a large and diverse group of organic compounds composed of fatty acids and glycerol. They may be solid or liquid. Most of them are insoluble in water but readily dissolve in other lipids, and in organic solvents like alcohol, ether and acetone.

Make up the genes, which provide the basic development of life. They are composed of carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen and phosphorus atoms. Thus making them the largest biological molecules in the body. The two major kinds of nucleic acids are deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA).

Deoxyribonucleic acid

(DNA) is the genetic material found within the cell nucleus, which replicates itself exactly before cell division to ensure that the genetic information in every body cell is identical and provides the instructions for building every protein in the body.

Ribonucleic acid

RNA (ribonucleic acid) carries on the message issued by DNA concerning protein synthesis. Nucleotides are the building blocks of nucleic acids, which are composed of three basic parts: 

A nitrogen- containing base. A pentose sugar. A phosphate group

The bases come in five forms: Adenine (A),Guanine (G), Cytosine (C), Thymine (T), Uracil (U).

Some elements are required by the body in very minute amounts and most of them are parts of enzymes required for enzyme activation. These are:

Chromium Cr Selenium Se Cobalt Co Silicon Si Copper Cu Tin Sn Fluorine F Vanadium V Manganese Mn Zinc Zn Molybdenum Mo

Chemistry fits into our lives. It offers new chemical frontiers and tells us what benefits may flow from them. 

Chemistry contributes to our existence, our culture, and our quality of life. 

Chemistry is concerned with the changes we see around us like the rusting of iron, growing of grass, burning of wood and many more. 

All living processes are chemical reactions. Everything we use, wear, live in, ride in, and play with is produced through controlled chemical reactions. 

Chemistry answers the needs of our society through a deep understanding of the factors that govern and furnish control of chemical reactions.

Chemistry answers the needs of our society through a deep understanding of the factors that govern and furnish control of chemical reactions.

It plays a critical role in man’s attempt to feed the world population, to top new sources of energy, to clothe and house humankind, to provide renewable substitutes for dwindling or scarce materials, to improve health and conquer disease, and to monitor and protect our environment. Because of this responsiveness to human needs, chemistry has become a crucial factor in the nation’s economic well being. Aside from that, our culture believes that learning about our place in the universe is not enough reason for encouraging scientific inquiry. Nothing concerns humans more than questions about the nature of life and how to preserve it. Since all life processes are brought about by chemical changes, understanding chemical reactivity is a vital foundation for our ultimate understanding of life. Thus chemistry, along with biology, contributes to human knowledge in areas of universal philosophical significance.