Check & Reflect

1. Check & Reflect Page 203, 1-7 Page 209, 1-4

2. Page 203 • Define the term “organic compound”. Give 2 examples of these compounds. • They are complex molecules that contain carbon. • Carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, amino acids, or nucleic acids (RNA/DNA).

3. List 4 elements that are macronutrients • Explain their importance in plants and humans. • Table, page 197

5. What is a micronutrient? Give one example. • A micronutrient is a substance that is essential for plant and animal growth and development in very small (trace or minor) amounts. • Selenium (how can you forget!!) is an example of a micronutrient. • Boron • Cobalt • Chromium • Copper • Fluoride • Iodine

6. What elements are found in the following compounds? • Carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, nucleic acids? • First of all what is a compound? • Chemical combination of 2 or more elements in a specific ratio.

8. Imagine that your favourite house plant is growing well, but not flowering. A friend suggests that your plant may be lacking in phosphorus. Is that a possibility? Explain your answer. • Phosphorus deficiency is a possibility because it is important for plant growth- roots and flowers.

9. Explain the term “optimum amount” • Using potassium for plants or selenium for animals. • In plants too little potassium can prevent early growth, reduce disease resistance, reduce starch and protein production, reduce sugar movement, and reduce chlorophyll production and tuber formation. Too much can interfere with absorption of magnesium

10. Selenium is needed in small/trace amounts to prevent diseases such as cancer, heart disease, cystic fibrosis, and damage to cell membranes caused by hydrogen peroxide. In large amounts, it can cause reproductive problems, death in fish and waterfowl, (and remember the picture of the pig’s feet all cracked?).

11. Which term in each of the following four terms includes the other three? • Carbohydrates, glycogen, starch, glocuse • Sugar, DNA, phosphate, nitrogen containing base • Fats, waxes, oils, lipids

12. Page 209 • Define the following terms: • Diffusion: the movement of a substances from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration- requires not energy; balancing. • Osmosis: movement of water molecules across a semi-permeable membrane from an area from where there are more water molecules to an area where there are less water molecules. • Active Transport: Requires energy; moves materials from areas of low concentration to areas of high concentration.

13. What is the substrate for the lichen in Figure 1.30 (b)? • It is a rock!

14. What happens to food when you ingest it? • The food is digested, or broken down into particles that can be absorbed into the blood stream. This process begins in the mouth and continues in the stomach and small intestine.

15. What effect do hydrolysis enzymes have on the rate at which large organic molecules break down? • The speed up the rate at which large organic molecules break down!