sci 230: module i carbon, life, and cycling part i: carbon atom & life “engage” activity:...

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)


• “Engage” Question:

(Baby from Physics)


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


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


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


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)



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)



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)

sci 230: module i carbon, life, and cycling part i: carbon atom & life “engage” activity:...

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