Obtaining the elements needed to make biological molecules
I can describe which chemical elements make up carbohydrates, proteins and lipids, and where producers and consumers get these elements from.
- Year 10
- AQA
Obtaining the elements needed to make biological molecules
I can describe which chemical elements make up carbohydrates, proteins and lipids, and where producers and consumers get these elements from.
Lesson details
Key learning 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.
- 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.
Keywords
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 misconception
That plants absorb nitrogen from the atmosphere, and animals do not need plants to obtain carbon, so plants are not necessary for food.
How plants obtain carbon and nitrogen, and the reliance that consumers have on producers for these inorganic elements is covered in detail.
Equipment
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What are the monomers of complex carbohydrates?
Q2.Lipids are made from ___________ and __________.
Q3.What type of molecules are joined together to form proteins?
Q4.What biological molecules are plant cell walls made from?
Q5.Match the biological molecule to it use.
Q6.Which of the following are disaccharides?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which elements do proteins, carbohydrates and proteins all contain?
Q2.Plants use the process of to convert carbon dioxide into carbohydrates.
Q3.Match each element to its source.
Q4.Who is correctly describing how plants get essential elements?
Q5.Which of the following biological molecules always contains nitrogen?
Q6.Match the term to its meaning.
