bioinorganic chemistry a chemical perspective on life · origin of life based on metal ions;...

A.-F. Miller, 2008, pg

Bioinorganic ChemistryA Chemical Perspective on Life

What elements are present in life ?Which of are considered inorganic ?

Humans are :water : fat : protein : mineral 53% : 27% : 16% : 5%

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Body_water


Origin of life based on metal ions; bioinorganic chemistry as an agent of

continuing global chemical change.

Timothy W. Lyons (2008) Science 321: 923-924. Summary: New data change the picture of how the iron, oxygen, and sulfur contents of the ocean evolved.

Robert J. Diaz and Rutger Rosenberg (2008) Spreading Dead Zones and Consequences for Marine Ecosystems. Science 321: 926-929.

T. R. Kulpet al. (2008) Arsenic(III) Fuels Anoxygenic Photosynthesis in Hot Spring Biofilms from Mono Lake, California. Science 321: 967-970.

G. Wächtershäuser (1988) ‘Before Enzymes and Templates: Theory of Surface Metabolism’ Microbiol. Rev. 52: 452-484.

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Origin of life based on metal ions; bioinorganic chemistry as an agent of

continuing global chemical change.

‘Spreading Dead Zones and the Consequences for Marine Ecosystems” Diaz & Rosenberg (2008) Science 321: 926-9293


Periodic Tablehttp://www.random-science-tools.com/chemistry/periodic_table.htm

IA

IIA

IIIA IVA VA VIA VIIA VIII VIII VIII IB IIB

IIIB IVB VB VIB VIIB

0

4


Elemental abundance in the earth’s crust: linear scale


Elemental abundance in the earth’s crust: log scale

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Elemental abundance in oceans: linear scale


Elemental abundance in oceans: logarithmic scale


“No element is found to be commonly required if it has an abundance of less than about 2 nM in the ocean, 20 umoles/kg in the earth's crust. . . More than 40 elements are above these limits.”

J. H. McClendon (1976) J. Mol. Evol. 8(2) pp 175-195.


Elemental Abundance

Based on a few hundred of the 500,000 plants and the ≈ 1.1 x 106 animals.

11 elements are ≈ always present in quantity, = 99.9% of atoms4 of these make up 99% of atoms: HOCN7 others are :

10 more are generally needed :

Exotica:

Na, K, Ca, Mg, P, S, Cl

Mn Fe Co Ni Cu Zn Mo B Si Se

W, Sr, Ba, Cr, I10


Elemental composition of HumansChemical Composition of the Human Body

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The table below shows the approximate quantities of the chemical elements present in an average 70kg man.

Element Amount / kg Amount / Mol.

Oxygen 43 2700

Carbon 16 1300

Hydrogen 7 7000

Nitrogen 1.8 130

Calcium 1.0 25

Phosphorus 0.78 25

Sulphur 0.14 4.4

Potassium 0.14 3.6

Sodium 0.10 4.3

Chlorine 0.095 2.7

Magnesium 0.019 0.78

Silicon 0.018 0.64

Iron 0.0042 0.075

Fluorine 0.0026 0.14

Zinc 0.0023 0.035

Rubidium 0.00032 0.0037

Strontium 0.00032 0.0037

Bromine 0.00020 0.0025

Lead 0.00012 0.00058

Copper 0.000072 0.0011

Aluminium 0.000061 0.0023

Cadmium 0.000050 0.00044

Boron < 0.000048 0.0044

Barium 0.000022 0.00016

Tin < 0.000017 0.00014

Iodine 0.000013 0.00010

Manganese 0.000012 0.00022

Nickel 0.000010 0.00017

Gold < 0.000010 0.000051

Molybdenum < 0.0000093 0.000097

Chromium < 0.0000018 0.000035

Caesium 0.0000015 0.000011

Cobalt 0.0000015 0.000025

Uranium 0.00000009 0.00000038

Beryllium 0.000000036 0.0000040

Radium 3.1!10-14 1.4!10-13

Chemical composition of the human bodyby mass

Related links

Periodic Table

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Metals Made to OrderSmall qty. forge shop

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strips, and alloy products.

Competitive prices!www.torreyhillstech.com

Human BodyFind Female Human

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Whilst I try to keep the information on this site accurate, I'm only human and I do occasionally make mistakes. I therefore advise you to check any information before using it for anythingimportant. If you do find any errors, please let me know so that I can correct them.

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This page was last changed on: 14 March 2007.

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http://www.random-science-tools.com/chemistry/chemical_comp_of_body.htmAlso see:http://web2.airmail.net/uthman/elements_of_body.html11


To Do:

Read Crichton Chpt. 1 , then 3Three most important / interesting ideas from this week.Memorize the top four rows of the periodic table plus the locations of W, Mo, I.Choose a metal ion as a presidential candidateStart watching for a paper for your report

Fun links:elemental composition of humans: http://web2.airmail.net/uthman/elements_of_body.htmlhttp://www.geocities.com/le_chatelier_uk/song_index.htmlhttp://www.wellesley.edu/Chemistry/Flick/mysongs.html

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bioinorganic chemistry a chemical perspective on life · origin of life based on metal ions;...

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