SCI 230: Module ISCI 230: Module I

Carbon, Life, and Cycling Carbon, Life, and Cycling

Part I: Carbon Atom & Life Part I: Carbon Atom & Life “Engage” Activity:

The decomposition of sucrosehttp://jchemed.chem.wisc.edu/JCESoft/CCA/CCA5/MAIN/1ORGANIC/ORG18/TRAM18/A/THUMBS.HTM

Question:How did the Carbon atoms get into sucrose?

Part I: Carbon Atom & LifePart I: Carbon Atom & Life“Inquiry ” Activity

– SCI 230 LAB students will mass seedlings or plant cuttings

– One set of plants grown in soil; one grown in water only

– The following data will be posted on-line:• Mass of seedlings, before & after each addition of H20• Digital pictures of seedlings

– SCI 230 students will plot mass changes of growing plants

Question:How does the plant gain mass (atoms) as the days

progress? (Where do these new atoms come from?)

Note: LAB students will generate data which ALL SCI 230 students will use!!

Part I: Carbon Atom & LifePart I: Carbon Atom & LifeSome Key Concepts covered in lecture:• 100 “flavors” of atoms• 96% of atoms which comprise living things are

“CHNOPS”• Carbon atoms (and all other atoms in living organisms

except hydrogen) were synthesized in a star approximately 10 b.y.a

• This includes the C atoms in your fingertips, in your pets, in your food, in your gasoline ….

• Atoms are continually cycling among living organisms and their non-living environment

Part I: Carbon Atom & LifePart I: Carbon Atom & LifeSome Key Concepts covered in lecture:* Review of Bohr model:

• Review Key concepts: atomic number, atomic mass, valence electrons, octet rule, isotopeshttp://ippex.pppl.gov/interactive/matter/intro.html

• Review of covalent and ionic bonds

• “Discover” number of covalent bonds formed by H, O, N, C

• Optional: History of atomic theory

Part I: Carbon Atom & LifePart I: Carbon Atom & Life

Modeling Activity A: Building Molecules1. Build simple molecules: CO2, methane, etc

2. Build glucose (linear, ring, isomer)

3. Build disaccharide, mini-starch (Optional in lecture)

4. Build amino acids, polypeptides (Optional in lecture)

5. Identify models of glycerol and fatty acids. (fats)

Note: ALL SCI 230/240 lecture students will do # 1 & 2.

Lab Students will do # 1 – 5

Key Concepts: dehydration synthesis, hydrolysis, monomers, polymers,

organic molecules

Part I: Carbon Atom & LifePart I: Carbon Atom & LifeModeling Activity B: Burning Propane

1. Burning methane Demonstration“Burning” natural gas produces CO2 + H2O

2. Burning propane* Discover # of O2 molecules required* Discover # of CO2 and H20 produced* Remember that Energy is released in process

3. Extension: “Burning Glucose” = Cellular Respiration

Key ConceptsFossil fuels, combustion, cellular respiration, release of

carbon into atmosphere

Part II: The Carbon CyclePart II: The Carbon Cycle

“Engage” Demonstration“Dinosaur’s Breath”

(See Handout)

(Another example of CO2 released by chemical reaction into atmosphere)

Part II: The Carbon CyclePart II: The Carbon Cycle

• “Engage” Question:

(Baby from Physics)

Part II: The Carbon CyclePart II: The Carbon Cycle

Clues to the Carbon CycleReview/Discuss:

• Back to sucrose demo: How did plant incorporate the C atoms into sugar?

• Back to the growing seedling: How did this plant gain mass?

• Answer to both: PHOTOSYNTHESIS

The Carbon CycleThe Carbon CycleActivity : Building the C – cycle

Review Key Concepts– Carbon key element in all living things

(backbone of organic molecules)– Carbon atoms continually cycle throughout the living

and non-living components of ecosystems

– Carbon often “travels” through ecosystems as CO2

The Carbon CycleThe Carbon Cycle

Activity: Building the C – cycle

Review Questions:• How is CO2 absorbed from atmosphere?

• How is CO2 released into atmosphere?

Student Small Group Activity:• Trace C through “eight steps” in ecosystem

• Be creative!• Then, add time at each stop (How long?)

The Carbon CycleThe Carbon Cycle

Activity III: Building the C – cycleWrap-up

Compile Student Results

Show Video“Silica”

Module I:Module I: Learning Goals & Objectives Learning Goals & Objectives

(Janet – feel free to critique away!(Janet – feel free to critique away!

Goal: Students will understand that carbon atoms form the backbone in all organic molecules, the molecules of life

Objectives: Students will

* Build models of simple, ecologically significant molecules

* Model and Identify representations of glucose

* Identify the products of combustion of fossil fuels, of sugars

Module I:Module I: Learning Goals & Objectives Learning Goals & Objectives

(Janet – feel free to critique away!(Janet – feel free to critique away!

Goal: Students will describe the carbon cycle and understand its importance of to all life on Earth.

Objectives: Students will

* List several ways C atoms are transferred between organisms

* Identify 2 -3 processes which release C atoms into the atmosphere

* Identify photosynthesis as the sole process which removes atmospheric CO2 and incorporates (“fixes”) C into organic molecules

Correlation with Correlation with

Ohio Academic Science StandardsOhio Academic Science Standards

K-2 Science Benchmarks

• Gather & communicate information from careful observations and simple investigation. (Scientific Inquiry)

• Explain that living things cause changes on Earth.(Earth & Space science)

• Explain how organisms function and interact with their physical environment. (Life Sciences)

Related Related

Ohio Academic Science StandardsOhio Academic Science Standards

3-5 Science Benchmarks• Explain the characteristics, cycles, and patterns involving

Earth. (Earth & Space Science)• Compare the characteristics of simple physical and

chemical changes. (Physical Sciences)• Organize and evaluate observations, measurements,

and other data to formulate inferences and conclusions. (Scientific Inquiry)

• Use results and data from investigations to provide the evidence to support explanations and conclusions.(Scientific Inquiry)

Related Related

Ohio Academic Science StandardsOhio Academic Science Standards

6 - 8 Science Benchmarks• Describe interactions of matter and energy throughout

the lithosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere.(Earth & Space Science)

• Explain how energy entering the ecosystems as sunlight supports the life of organisms through photosynthesis and the transfer of energy through the interactions of organisms and the environment. (Life Sciences)

• Relate properties and chemical processes to the behavior and/or arrangement of the small particles that compose matter. (Physical Sciences)

Related Related

Ohio Academic Science StandardsOhio Academic Science Standards

6 - 8 Science Benchmarks (cont.)

• Analyze and interpret data from scientific investigations using appropriate mathematical skills in order to draw valid conclusions. (Scientific Inquiry)

• Use skills of scientific inquiry processes. (e.g. hypothesis, record keeping, description and explanation)(Scientific Ways of Knowing)

Correlation with Correlation with

Ohio Academic Science StandardsOhio Academic Science Standards

9 - 10 Science Benchmarks• Explain the flow of energy and the cycling of matter

through biological and ecological systems. (Life Sciences)

• Describe that matter is made of minute particles called atoms. Explain the structure and properties of atoms.(Physical Sciences)

• Explain how atoms react with each other to form other substances and how molecules react with each other or other atoms to form even different substances. (Physical Sciences)

Correlation with Correlation with

Ohio Academic Science StandardsOhio Academic Science Standards

9 - 10 Science Benchmarks (cont.)

• Participate in and apply the processes of scientific investigations to create models.(Scientific Inquiry)

• Explain that scientific knowledge must be based on evidence, be predictive, logical, subject to modification and limited to the natural world. (Scientific Ways of Knowing)