Biochemistry

The Chemistry of Life

If you are trying to become successful in biology it helps to understand the basics first. And in biology, the basics actually begin in chemistry. Let's start with the basics. All mater, whether living or nonliving, is composed of atoms and molecules. Atoms combine to form molecules. Simple molecules can then combine to form more complex molecules. Living things have the ability to break down large molecules and use the resulting smaller molecules to synthesize their own useful large molecules.

Basic Chem

Water

One of the simplest molecules on the planet is also the most important. Water is made of two hydrogen atoms bonded to one oxygen atom. These atoms are chemically bonded together because they are sharing electrons with each other. Sometimes when atoms share electrons, they share them equally. This is not the case with water.

The negatively-charged electrons spend more time orbiting the oxygen atom than a hydrogen. This means that the oxygen side of a water molecule is more negative and the hydrogens' side (or pole) is more positive.

We call water a polar molecule because of its two oppositely-charged ends. Since opposites attract water molecules are highly attracted to each other. This attraction is called hydrogen bonding.

Living things have adapted to take advantage of all the properties of water that result from the powerful hydrogen bonds between molecules.

Animation showing orientation of water molecules that hydrogen bond

Animation showing hydrogen bonds forming between

Animation showing crystal lattice structure of ice created by hydrogen bonds

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