Republic of the Philippines

PARTIDO STATE UNIVERSITY

Goa, Camarines Sur

PARTIDO STATE UNIVERSITY TINAMBAC CAMPUS

Name of Campus/ College

Module 1
INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT1

Name of Student: _________________________________ Week No: ____1-2______

Course Code: ES1______________________________ Name of Faculty: EnP. Carlo Gabriel R. Abante
Course Title: Environmental Science_______________

I. OBJECTIVES
a. Describe the basic chemical and biological foundations of life

II. LESSON

The Chemical and Biological Foundations of Life

Elements in various combinations comprise all matter on Earth, including living things. Some of the
most abundant elements in living organisms include carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur, and
phosphorus. These form the nucleic acids, proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids that are the fundamental
components of living matter.

At its most fundamental level, life is made up of matter. Matter is any substance that occupies space
and has mass. Elements are unique forms of matter with specific chemical and physical properties that cannot
be broken down into smaller substances by ordinary chemical reactions. There are 118 elements, but only 92
occur naturally. The remaining elements are synthesized in laboratories and are unstable. The five elements
common to all living organisms are oxygen (O), carbon (C), hydrogen (H), and nitrogen (N) and phosphorous
(P). In the non-living world, elements are found in different proportions, and some elements common to living
organisms are relatively rare on the earth as a whole (Table 1.1). For example, the atmosphere is rich in
nitrogen and oxygen but contains little carbon and hydrogen, while the earth’s crust, although it contains
oxygen and a small amount of hydrogen, has little nitrogen and carbon. In spite of their differences in
abundance, all elements and the chemical reactions between them obey the same chemical and physical
laws regardless of whether they are a part of the living or non-living world.

Table 1.1. Approximate percentage of elements in living organisms (from bacteria to humans)
compared to the non-living world. Trace represents less than 1%.
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PARTIDO STATE UNIVERSITY
Goa, Camarines Sur

The structure of the Atom

An atom is the smallest unit of matter that

retains all of the chemical properties of an
element. He’s not the reporter and news anchor
from GMA, just to be clear. For example, one
gold atom has all of the properties of gold in that
it is a solid metal at room temperature. A gold
coin is simply a very large number of gold
atoms molded into the shape of a coin and
containing small amounts of other elements
known as impurities. Gold atoms cannot be
broken down into anything smaller while still
retaining the properties of gold.

An atom is composed of two regions:

the nucleus, which is in the center of the atom Figure 1.1. Elements, such as helium, depicted here, are made up of
and contains protons and neutrons, and the atoms. Atoms are made up of protons and neutrons located within the
outermost region of the atom which holds its nucleus, with electrons in orbitals surrounding the nucleus.
electrons in orbit around the nucleus, as
illustrated in Figure 1.1. Atoms contain
protons, electrons, and neutrons, among other
subatomic particles. The only exception is
hydrogen (H), which is made of one proton
and one electron with no neutrons. bibo kasi si
Hydrogen.

Protons and neutrons have approximately the same mass, about 1.67 × 10-24 grams. Scientists arbitrarily
define this amount of mass as one atomic mass unit (amu) (Table 1.2). Although similar in mass, protons and
neutrons differ in their electric charge. A proton is positively charged whereas a neutron is uncharged.
Therefore, the number of neutrons in an atom contributes significantly to its mass, but not to its charge.

Table 1.2. Protons, neutrons, and electrons

Electrons are much smaller in mass than protons, weighing only 9.11 × 10-28 grams, or about 1/1800 of an
atomic mass unit. Hence, they do not contribute much to an element’s overall atomic mass. Although not
significant contributors to mass, electrons do contribute greatly to the atom’s charge, as each electron has a
negative charge equal to the positive charge of a proton. Accounting for the sizes of protons, neutrons, and
electrons, most of the volume of an atom—greater than 99 percent—is, in fact, empty space (99% of
everything you see is in fact a blank space by Taylor Swift.). With all this empty space, one might ask why so-
called solid objects do not just pass through one another. The reason they do not is that the electrons that
surround all atoms are negatively charged, and negative charges repel each other.
 Republic of the Philippines
PARTIDO STATE UNIVERSITY
Goa, Camarines Sur

When an atom gains or loses an electron, an ion is formed. Ions are charged forms of atoms. A positively
charged ion, such as sodium (Na+ ), has lost one or more electrons. A negatively charged ion, such as chloride
(Cl- ), has gained one or more electrons.

Molecules

Are you made of Copper and Tellurium? Because I think you’re CuTe. Char. Molecules are formed
when two or more atoms join together through chemical bonds to form a unit of matter. Throughout your study
of environmental science, you will encounter many molecules including carbon dioxide gas. Its chemical
formula is CO2, indicating that this molecule is made up of one carbon atom and two oxygen atoms. Some
molecules are charged due to the ions they contain. This is the case for the nitrate (NO3 - ), a common source
of nitrogen to plants. It contains one nitrogen atom and three oxygen atoms and has an overall charge of
negative one.

Isotopes

Isotopes are different forms of an element that have the same number of protons but a different
number of neutrons. Some elements—such as carbon, potassium, and uranium—have naturally occurring
isotopes. Carbon-12 contains six protons, six neutrons, and six electrons; therefore, it has a mass number of
12 (six protons and six neutrons). Carbon-14 contains six protons, eight neutrons, and six electrons; its atomic
mass is 14 (six protons and eight electrons). These two alternate forms of carbon are isotopes. Some isotopes
may emit neutrons, protons, and electrons, and attain a more stable atomic configuration (lower level of
potential energy); these are radioactive isotopes, or radioisotopes. Radioactive decay describes the energy
loss that occurs when an unstable atom’s nucleus releases radiation, for example, carbon-14 losing neutrons
to eventually become carbon-12.

Carbon

The basic functional unit of life is a cell and all organisms are made up of one or more cells. Cells
are made of many complex molecules called macromolecules, such as proteins, nucleic acids (RNA and
DNA), carbohydrates, and lipids. The macromolecules are a subset of organic molecules that are especially
important for life. The fundamental component for all of these macromolecules is carbon. The carbon atom
has unique properties that allow it to form covalent bonds with as many as four different atoms, making this
versatile element ideal to serve as the basic structural component, or “backbone,” of the macromolecules.

Hydrocarbons

Hydrocarbons are organic molecules consisting entirely of carbon and hydrogen, such as methane
(CH4. We often use hydrocarbons in our daily lives as fuels—like the propane in a gas grill or the butane in a
lighter. The many covalent bonds between the atoms in hydrocarbons store a great amount of energy, which
is released when these molecules are burned (oxidized). As the backbone of the large molecules of living
things, hydrocarbons may exist as linear carbon chains, carbon rings, or combinations of both. This three-
dimensional shape or conformation of the large molecules of life (macromolecules) is critical to how they
function.

Biological molecules
Life on Earth is primarily made up of four major classes of biological molecules, or biomolecules.
These include carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.
 Republic of the Philippines
PARTIDO STATE UNIVERSITY
Goa, Camarines Sur

Most people are familiar with carbohydrates, one type of macromolecule, especially when it comes
to what we eat. Carbohydrates are, in fact, an essential part of our diet; grains, fruits, and vegetables are all
natural sources of carbohydrates. Carbohydrates provide energy to the body, particularly through glucose, a
simple sugar that is a component of starch and an ingredient in many staple foods. Carbohydrates also have
other important functions in humans, animals, and plants. Carbohydrates can be represented by the
stoichiometric formula (CH2O)n, where n is the number of carbons in the molecule. In other words, the ratio
of carbon to hydrogen to oxygen is 1:2:1 in carbohydrate molecules. This formula also explains the origin of
the term “carbohydrate”: the components are carbon (“carbo”) and the components of water (hence,
“hydrate”). The chemical formula for glucose is C6H12O6. In humans, glucose is an important source of
energy.

During cellular respiration, energy is released from glucose, and that energy is used to help make
adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Plants synthesize glucose using carbon dioxide and water, and glucose in
turn is used for energy requirements for the plant. Excess glucose is often stored as starch that is catabolized
(the breakdown of larger molecules by cells) by humans and other animals that feed on plants. Plants are
able to synthesize glucose, and the excess glucose, beyond the plant’s immediate energy needs, is stored as
starch in different plant parts, including roots and seeds. The starch in the seeds provides food for the embryo
as it germinates and can also act as a source of food for humans and animals.

Lipids include a diverse group of compounds such as fats, oils, waxes, phospholipids, and steroids
that are largely nonpolar in nature. Nonpolar molecules are hydrophobic (“water fearing”), or insoluble in water.
These lipids have important roles in energy storage, as well as in the building of cell membranes throughout
the body.

Proteins are one of the most abundant organic molecules in living systems and have the most
diverse range of functions of all macromolecules. Proteins may be structural, regulatory, contractile, or
protective; they may serve in transport, storage, or membranes; or they may be toxins or enzymes. Each cell
in a living system may contain thousands of proteins, each with a unique function. Their structures, like their
functions, vary greatly.

Enzymes, which are produced by living cells, speed up biochemical reactions (like digestion) and
are usually complex proteins. Each enzyme has a specific shape or formation based on its use. The enzyme
may help in breakdown, rearrangement, or synthesis reactions. Proteins have different shapes and molecular
weights. Protein shape is critical to its function, and many different types of chemical bonds maintain this
shape. Changes in temperature, pH, and exposure to chemicals may cause a protein to denature. This is a
permanent change in the shape of the protein, leading to loss of function. All proteins are made up of different
arrangements of the same 20 types of amino acids. These amino acids are the units that make up proteins.
Ten of these are considered essential amino acids in humans because the human body cannot produce them
and they are obtained from the diet. The sequence and the number of amino acids ultimately determine the
protein's shape, size, and function.

Nucleic acids are the most important macromolecules for the continuity of life. They carry the
genetic blueprint of a cell and carry instructions for the functioning of the cell. The two main types of nucleic
acids are deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA). DNA is the genetic material found in all
living organisms, ranging from single-celled bacteria to multicellular mammals. DNA controls all of the cellular
activities by turning the genes “on” or “off.” The other type of nucleic acid, RNA, is mostly involved in protein
synthesis. DNA has a double-helix structure.
 Republic of the Philippines
PARTIDO STATE UNIVERSITY
Goa, Camarines Sur

Biological organization

All living things are made of cells; the cell itself is the smallest fundamental unit of structure and
function in living organisms. In most organisms, these cells contain organelles, which provide specific
functions for the cell. Living organisms have the following properties: all are highly organized, all require
energy for maintenance and growth, and all grow over time and respond to their environment. All organisms
adapt to the environment, and all ultimately reproduce contributing genes to the next generation. Some
organisms consist of a single cell and others are multicellular. Organisms are individual living entities. For
example, each tree in a forest is an organism. All the individuals of a species living within a specific area are
collectively called a population. Populations fluctuate based on a number of factors: seasonal and yearly
changes in the environment, natural disasters such as forest fires and volcanic eruptions, and competition for
resources between and within species. A community is the sum of populations inhabiting a particular area.
For instance, all of the trees, insects, and other populations in a forest form the forest’s community. The forest
itself is an ecosystem. An ecosystem consists of all the living things in a particular area together with the
abiotic, non-living parts of that environment such as nitrogen in the soil or rainwater. At the highest level of
organization, the biosphere is the collection of all ecosystems, and it represents the zones of life on earth. It
includes land, water, and even the atmosphere to a certain extent. Life in an ecosystem is often about
competition for limited resources, a characteristic of the process of natural selection. Competition in
communities (all living things within specific habitats) is observed both within species and among different
species. The resources for which organisms compete include organic material from living or previously living
organisms, sunlight, and mineral nutrients, which provide the energy for living processes and the matter to
make up organisms’ physical structures. Other critical factors influencing community dynamics are the
components of its physical and geographic environment: a habitat’s latitude, amount of rainfall, topography
(elevation), and available species. These are all important environmental variables that determine which
organisms can exist within a particular area. Ecosystems can be small, such as the tidal pools found near the
rocky shores of many oceans, or large, such as the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil.

Ecosystems are complex with many

interacting parts. They are routinely exposed to
various disturbances: changes in the environment
that affect their compositions, such as yearly
variations in rainfall and temperature. Many
disturbances are a result of natural processes. For
example, when lightning causes a forest fire and
destroys part of a forest ecosystem, the ground is
eventually populated with grasses, followed by
bushes and shrubs, and later mature trees: thus, the
forest is restored to its former state. This process is
so universal that ecologists have given it a name—
succession. The impact of environmental
disturbances caused by human activities is now as
significant as the changes wrought by natural
processes. Human agricultural practices, air pollution,
acid rain, global deforestation, overfishing, oil spills,
and illegal dumping on land and into the ocean all
have impacts on ecosystems.
 Republic of the Philippines
PARTIDO STATE UNIVERSITY
Goa, Camarines Sur

III. ACTIVITIES
a. Biological Organization
Instructions: Draw/Illustrate the biological organization of life using the keywords below, organized in the
correct order. You can draw on any platform or canvas. Digital illustrations and photos of this activity can be
submitted on our Moodle classroom.

Key words:
Atom Organelle
Cell Molecule
Organ Tissue
Organism Population
Community Body System
Ecosystem Biosphere

IV. ASSESSMENT
a. Chemical Foundations of Life
Instructions: Read the definitions/descriptions below and choose the appropriate answer from the word-bank.
You can answer this quiz in our Moodle classroom.

Atom Electron Isotope Carbohydrates

Nucleus Neutron Carbon Lipids
Proton Molecule Hydrocarbon Radioisotopes
Protein Enzyme DNA RNA

1. __________________ The smallest unit of matter that retains all the chemical properties
of an element.

2. __________________ A single strand nucleic acid mostly involved in protein synthesis.

3. __________________ A negatively charged particle.

4. __________________ Organic molecules consisting entirely of carbon and hydrogen

5. __________________ The most abundant organic molecules in living systems and have
the most diverse range of functions of all macromolecules

6. __________________ Two or more atoms chemically combined.

7. __________________ An element that has the same number of protons but a different
number of neutrons.

8. __________________ An atom with unique properties that allow it to form covalent

bonds with as many as four different atoms.

9. __________________ A particle with no charge.

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PARTIDO STATE UNIVERSITY
Goa, Camarines Sur

10. __________________ A diverse group of compounds such as fats, oils, waxes,

phospholipids, and steroids.

11. __________________ A passively charged particle.

12. __________________ Provides energy to the body, particularly through glucose.

13. __________________ Contains protons and neutrons.

14. __________________ A double helix nucleic acid containing genetic material.

15. __________________ Isotopes with radioactive decay.

V. SUGGESTED REFERENCES

Zehnder, Caralyn; Manoylov, Kalina; Mutiti, Samuel; Mutiti, Christine; VandeVoort, Allison; and
Bennett, Donna, "Introduction to Environmental Science: 2nd Edition" (2018). Biological
Sciences Open Textbooks. 4.

Why study environmental science: Bozeman Science. (2015). Environmental Science. In YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LE9KTG9PFho