Biochemistry- The Chemistry of Life

The Chemistry of Life

              All life consists of cells of which are made up of chemicals. Every process preformed by cells involves chemicals and chemical reactions. Trillions of chemical reactions occur simultaneously throughout the human body at any given moment. These chemical reactions drive the processes that keep a human body alive and functioning. Roughly ninety-six percent of the mass of the human body is elements, specifically the four elements: oxygen, carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen. A lot of which is in the form of water. the remaining four percent is a mix of different elements. some of the more occurrent representatives are called macronutrients while the sparse elements are referred to as micronutrients. These nutrients preform many different functions, for example: building bones and cell structures, regulating the body's pH, carrying charge, and driving chemical reactions.

             Recently, the FDA has set a reference of daily intake of calcium, iron, phosphorous, iodine, magnesium, zinc, selenium, copper, manganese, chromium, molybdenum, and chloride. However, these are not the only elements needed in order to be healthy, there are many more but they are no considered as essential to human life. More than sixty-two percent of the body is water. Water is vital to life and regulates homeostasis, and allows the body to properly function. Water also helps to regulate the pH of the body, water has a pH of seven, which is neutral, and for homeostasis to be achieved, body fluids, such as blood, need to have a constant pH. When a strong acid or base appears in the human body, it is destructive for human cells. Buffers- combinations of weak acids or weak bases, and their respective salts in a solution- help the body fluids resist pH changes to balance the body.

           Oxygen is the most abundant element in the human body. It is almost always found bound to hydrogen to create water. Oxygen acts as an electron acceptor and oxidizing agent. It is found in all four of the major classes of organic molecules: protein, carbohydrates, lipids, and nucleic acids. Oxygen is a also a vital element in aerobic cellular respiration. Large amounts of oxygen are found in the lungs and bloodstream. Hemoglobin-found in the bloodstream- binds to oxygen atoms that come from inhalation. Oxygen is also used by cells to produce energy. Although oxygen is absolutely essential to human life, too much oxygen can be deadly, it leads to oxidative damage to cells and tissue.

           Carbohydrates are the major source of energy for most cells. They are broken down in the cells so that energy is released. Carbohydrates can be present in three forms: monosaccharides, disaccharides, and polysaccharides. Monosaccharides are the simplest type of carbohydrates. They cannot be broken down by hydrolysis. Disaccharides are two monosaccharides bounded together. Polysaccharides contain hundreds and thousands of monosaccharides. Humans receive carbohydrates from the foods that are eaten. 

        Many processes occurring in the body are chemical reactions. Respiration is a chemical process when glucose or other sugars react with oxygen to produce energy. This reaction produces carbon dioxide and water as waste products. Carbon dioxide is dispelled when it is breathed out. Metabolic reactions are chemical reactions that occur within the body to release energy. During the process of cellular respiration, the glucose molecule combines with oxygen and reacts to create carbon dioxide and water, and ATP- a form of energy that the body uses for daily functions- this is a combustion reaction. Organized structures such as cells, naturally become disorderly over time. Chemical reactions occur to destabilize these cells. When a reaction occurs, heat is released- heat adds energy to entropy because it is random energy. 

Works Cited

http://www.eoht.info/page/Human+chemistry

http://questions.sci-toys.com/node/47

http://www.livescience.com/3505-chemistry-life-human-body.html

https://www.smore.com/785w1-organic-chemistry-of-the-human-body