Chemical Reactions and Levels of Ecological Organization

This page covers chemical reactions in biology and the hierarchical organization of ecological systems.

A simple chemical reaction is presented:

CO₂ + H₂O → H₂CO₃

Example: This reaction represents the formation of carbonic acid, which is important in maintaining pH balance in blood.

The levels of ecological organization are explained, from smallest to largest:

1. Organism: An individual living thing
2. Population: A group of individuals of the same species in a defined area
3. Community: Several interacting populations living together
4. Ecosystem: All organisms in an area plus their physical environment
5. Biome: A group of ecosystems with similar climates and typical organisms
6. Biosphere: All life on Earth and the areas where life exists

Highlight: Understanding these levels is crucial for comprehending the interconnectedness of living systems.

The page also introduces producers and consumers:

Vocabulary: Producers (autotrophs) create their own food, while consumers (heterotrophs) obtain energy by consuming other organisms or organic matter.

Characteristics of Living Things and Atomic Structure

This page delves into the fundamental characteristics of living organisms and the basic structure of atoms.

Characteristics of living things include:

1. Growing and developing
2. Possessing DNA
3. Being composed of cells
4. Obtaining and using energy
5. Maintaining a stable internal environment
6. Reproducing
7. Evolving
8. Responding to the environment

Highlight: These characteristics collectively define what it means to be "alive" in biological terms.

The page then explores atomic structure:

• Protons: Positive charge, found in nucleus
• Neutrons: No charge, found in nucleus
• Electrons: Negative charge, found outside nucleus in electron cloud

Vocabulary: An isotope is an atom of the same element but with a different number of neutrons.

The composition of water molecules is explained: 2 hydrogen atoms and 1 oxygen atom.

The page distinguishes between covalent and ionic bonds:

Definition: Ionic bonds involve the transfer of electrons from one atom to another, while covalent bonds involve the sharing of electrons between atoms.