Lesson 12: Matter in Living and Nonliving Systems
In this lesson, we will define matter and talk about what makes up matter. We
will also look at the concept of breaking the Earth up into four spheres that
interact with each other. Lastly, we will learn about the difference between
organic and inorganic compounds.
Matter is defined as anything that occupies space and
has mass. Matter is made of tiny pieces called atoms.
Atoms are basic building blocks of all matter. There are 94 naturally-occurring
types of atoms in nature. Atoms are made up of protons, neutrons and electrons.
Molecules consist of two or more atoms. Compounds consist of two or more
different types of atoms that are bonded. Oxygen gas, for example, consists of
two bonded oxygen atoms. This makes it a molecule, but not a compound.
The Earth can be seen as a system of four spheres that interact with each other
- atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere and biosphere. Atmosphere is the thin
layer of gases including water vapor that separate the Earth from outer space.
Hydrosphere is water in all its liquid and solid forms.
Lithosphere consists of all the other elements required by living organisms
such as minerals to survive. Biosphere consist of living systems. Human beings,
plant life and animal life all exist in the biosphere and require the other
three spheres to survive and thrive.
Organic compounds are chemical compounds in living organisms that
bond to
form complex molecules. Chemical compounds in the human body contain six
elements - carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorus and sulfur.
Inorganic compounds are chemical compounds that
do not have carbon-carbon or carbon-hydrogen bonds.
Living organisms require elements essential to life - carbon, hydrogen and
oxygen to survive.