Question

1. How do enzymes benefit chemical reactions within living organisms? What are some examples of enzymes? Provide at least 3 examples of specific enzymes found within living things.
2. What molecules store energy within living organisms? Provide at least 2 examples.
3. Why is water so important within living organisms? What are some of the functions of water within living organisms?
4. What is an element that is known to be toxic to living organisms? Be sure to name the element, give its symbol, and at least one harmful effect it has on a living organism.

Answer 1

Ans.1. Enzymes are biological molecules ( typically protein ) that significantly speed up the rate of virtually all of the chemical reactions that takes place within the cell . They are vital for life and serve a wide range of important functions in the body , such as in digestion and metabolism .and enzyme also helps to convert macromolecules into micromolecules .

Ex. Of specific enzyme found in body is :;

1. Lipase : enzyme that help digest fats in gut

2. Amylase : helps to change straches in sugars.

3. Maltase - also found in saliva , break the sugar maltose into glucose.

4. Trypsin : found in small intestine , break protein into aminoacids.

5. Pepsin & trypsin : helps in digestion of Protein.

Ans . 2. Living organisms use two major type of energy storage . Energy rich molecule such as glycogen and triglycerides store energy in the form of covalent chemical bond . Cells synthesis such molecule and store them for later release of the energy.

Example : a..Glucose: it is the major energy storage molecule used to transport energy between different type of cells in human body .

B. Adenosine triphosphate ( ATP) : it is one of the key molecular energy carriers in biological world.

C. Fats .

Ans. 3.All Living organisms need water to survival . All oxygen dependent organism needs water to aid in respiration process. Some organism, fish : can breathe in water . Organism require water to break down food molecules or generate energy during the respiration process . Water regulate metabolism and dissolve compounds going into or out of the body.

About 80% of our body contain water even bones contain 30% of water.

FUNCTION : it fulfills 5 vitals functions ::

Cell life , transport , chemical reaction , temperature regulation and waste excretion.

Ans 4.. Trace essential Elements like fluoride , copper and selenium etc. Can be hazardous to living organisms If present in high levels .

Non- essential heavy metals such as arsenic lead ,mercury , cadmium are usually toxic to organism at much lower level than trace essential elements .

EXAMPLE: Name - FLUORINE

Symbol : F

Toxicity : FLUORINE is univalent and is most chemically reactive and electronegative of all the elements . Like other halogens , it is highly dangerous , it cause several chemical burns on contact with skin .