Unit 1: The Chemistry of Life
Reading:
- BJU Biology: Ch. 2 - The Chemistry of Life
- AP Classroom: Unit 1 - Chemistry of Life
Summary
We will start the class with an overview of the chemistry of life, including basic inorganic and organic chemistry
We will start the class with an overview of the chemistry of life, including basic inorganic and organic chemistry
Labs
There are many labs that work well with this topic. We will do what we have time for. Some of the lab-handouts are posted below, and I will provide others when we get here.
There are many labs that work well with this topic. We will do what we have time for. Some of the lab-handouts are posted below, and I will provide others when we get here.
- The gases of life: Make and test O2 and CO2
- Acids and bases labs: Reactions of acetic acid, pH weblab
- Carbs: Manufacture potato starch and hydrolyze it (break it down) to glucose
- Fats and oils: Extraction of avocado oil and preparation of avocado soap
- Food chemistry lab - testing for proteins, carbs, lipids
- Nucleic acids: DNA extraction from strawberries

1._biochemistry_lecture_notes_part_1_inorganic_2023.docx |

1._biomolecules_lecture_notes_part_2_organic, 2023.pptx |
9/27/2023 Biomolecules lecture 2nd half covers Lipids & Nucleic Acids
DNA and Cell videos
The biomolecules we are discussing all play important functions in the cell, and it's necessary to start building a mental picture of what is actually going on. We will watch these and discuss them in class...
Below: "Inside the Cell".
The biomolecules we are discussing all play important functions in the cell, and it's necessary to start building a mental picture of what is actually going on. We will watch these and discuss them in class...
Below: "Inside the Cell".
Below: Journey Inside the Cell (3 min)
Below: DNA winding and replication (3 min)
Below: An elderly James Watson shows how they worked out the structure of DNA in 1953 (2 min)
Homework handouts
In this class, most of your homework will be hosted in Canvas. I will "park" various handouts in each Unit, and we may or may not use them. I will give instructions as we go along...
In this class, most of your homework will be hosted in Canvas. I will "park" various handouts in each Unit, and we may or may not use them. I will give instructions as we go along...

1._chemistry_of_life_questions__inorganic__61.docx |

DNA_double_helix_handout__(including the watson_crick_franklin_drama).pdf |

DNA_double_helix_questions__(goes_with_the_handout).docx |
Food Tests Lab

2._food_tests_lab_handout_for_starch_sugar_proteins_lipids.docx |
O2 and CO2 Lab

o2_lab_handout.pdf |

co2_lab_handout.pdf |
pH, Acids & Bases Weblab

ph_acids_and_bases_weblab.docx |
DNA Extraction Lab

Lab handout: DNA_extraction_from_kiwi_strawberry_1 page_handout.pdf |

DNA_extraction_lab_follow_up_questions.docx |

DNA_extraction_explaining_all_the_steps_22slides.pptx |