Properties of Water
What is the chemical formula for water?
H2O
What are the 4 biomolecules?
Carbohydrates, Lipids, Proteins, Nucleic Acids
What is homeostasis?
Homeostasis includes processes that allow organisms to adjust to their environment to stay alive
How many chambers in human heart?
4
Where do our heartbeat sound comes from?
The valves closing
How does ice float on water?
In solid state, H-bonds hold molecules farther apart → ice is less dense than liquid water → floats
What elements do ALL biomolecules have?
Carbon (C), Hydrogen (H), and Oxygen (O)
What does our body do if we get too cold or too hot?
Shiver to warm up or sweat to cool down
Which organ sensing external temperature changes?
Skin
List the 5 elements in nucleic acids
CHONP
Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, Nitrogen, Phosphorus
Why is water important for all living things?
Transports nutrients/waste; solvent for chemical reactions; regulates temperature; makes up most of cell content
Glucose ring structure is monomer of which macromolecule/biomolecule?
Carbohydrate
List out 2 things that the body must regulate to stay alive:
Temperature, blood sugar, water, oxygen, etc.
Pancreas releases insulin when blood sugar ___.
rises or is too high
Why is CO₂ not considered a biomolecule even though it has carbon and oxygen elements?
All biomolecules have carbon, hydrogen, and OXYGEN. CO₂ contains only carbon and oxygen.
Water sticking to other surfaces is called:
Adhesion
Amino acid structure is monomer of which macromolecule?
Protein
Explain why an athlete would want to eat pasta before a big event.
Pasta is primarily composed of carbohydrates (starch = polysaccharide). The body breaks starch down into glucose, which enters cellular respiration to quickly produce ATP — the body's energy currency. Steak = protein (used for building, not quick fuel); Avocado/Butter = lipids (slow to break down, better for sustained low-intensity activity).
Why do we need our heart?
The heart is a muscular pump that circulates blood throughout the body via the circulatory system. It delivers oxygen (from the lungs) and nutrients (from digestion) to all cells, and carries away waste products like CO₂ and urea for removal. Without it, cells would not receive the materials needed for cellular respiration and would die.
atom→_____→cell→ tissue→organ→____→organism
Molecule, organ system
List at least 3 of 6 properties of water
Any 3 of: cohesion, adhesion, high specific heat, universal solvent, lower density as solid, hydrophobic effect
How do plants produce nuts with high protein?
Photosynthesis provides C, H, O → glucose. Nitrogen uptake from soil provides the N needed → amino acids → proteins.
Why is a stable body temperature important?
If body temperature rises or drops too much, enzymes denature (change shape) or slow down, which stops vital metabolic processes like digestion, cellular respiration, and nerve signaling. Organs start to fail :(
What organs are part of the digestive system and what does the digestive system do?
The digestive system breaks down food into monomers (monosaccharides, amino acids, fatty acids) that cells can absorb and use for energy and building materials. It maintains homeostasis by regulating nutrient intake and working with the circulatory system to distribute absorbed molecules throughout the body.
Why are carbohydrates used as quick energy rather than fat?
(TLDR: Carbs easy to break down compared to fats and the body is efficient.) Carbohydrates, like glucose, are already in a simple molecular form that can directly enter cellular respiration to produce ATP quickly. Fats (lipids/fatty acids) store more total energy per gram, but they require more chemical steps to break down before they can enter the same energy-producing pathway. Therefore, the body uses carbohydrates first as a fast energy source, especially during high-intensity activity, and reserves fats for sustained, lower-intensity aerobic activity.