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Year 10 - Science

Obtaining the elements needed to make biological molecules

Biological molecules and enzymes

Unit Summary

This unit explores the roles of sugars, amino acids, and fatty acids in the synthesis and breakdown of biological molecules. It covers enzyme action, transport in organisms, hypothesis development, and data interpretation. Emphasis is on planning experiments and presenting explanations.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to describe which chemical elements make up carbohydrates, proteins and lipids, and where producers and consumers get these elements from.

Key Notes

  • All carbohydrates, proteins and lipids are made of the elements carbon, hydrogen and oxygen.
  • All proteins and some lipids also contain the element nitrogen.
  • Producers obtain carbon and oxygen from the air, hydrogen from water, and nitrogen from the soil.
  • Consumers cannot use carbon from carbon dioxide in air to make biological molecules; only producers can do that.
  • Consumers absorb oxygen from the air but get all their carbon and nitrogen by eating producers.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • autotrophic: An organism that can make its own food, such as a plant or other producer.
  • abiotic: The non-living parts of an ecosystem, such as the atmosphere.
  • photosynthesis: The process carried out by plants that converts carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen.
  • producer: An organism that produces its own food, such as a plant.
  • consumer: An organism which must eat other organisms in order to obtain food.

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • That plants absorb nitrogen from the atmosphere, and animals do not need plants to obtain carbon, so plants are not necessary for food.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Explain the scientific idea in this lesson using two key points.

All carbohydrates, proteins and lipids are made of the elements carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. All proteins and some lipids also contain the element nitrogen.

2. Define this scientific word and use it in context. 'autotrophic'

An organism that can make its own food, such as a plant or other producer. Include the word in a full scientific explanation, not as a single label.

3. Correct this common scientific misunderstanding.

Mistake: That plants absorb nitrogen from the atmosphere, and animals do not need plants to obtain carbon, so plants are not necessary for food. Correction: How plants obtain carbon and nitrogen, and the reliance that consumers have on producers for these inorganic elements is covered in detail.

More Lessons In This Unit

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