Earth Materials and Biological Molecules

Types and Characteristics of Rocks

Igneous rocks are formed from magma with dissolved gas coming from the deep part of the land. There are three types in the crust (CODIA): volcanic, plutonic, and porphyritic or filonian.

Sedimentary rocks are formed by the union of loose sediment particles accumulated on the bottoms of seas and oceans. These can be chemical, organic, or detrital.

Metamorphic rocks are formed by the alteration of other rocks when they are acted upon by pressure or high temperatures.

Definition and Utility of Rocks

Rocks are natural substances, inert solids (except for oil), and are made of various minerals. Their main utilities are:

• As a source of energy: Obtained from petroleum are diesel fuel, kerosene fuel, and tar.
• Charcoal: Used as a source of energy, especially in thermal power plants.
• Granite: Used in construction and as ornamental stone.
• Slate (Louza): Used for the covering of buildings.
• Clay (Arxil): Used for the elaboration of bricks and tiles.

Properties and Classification of Minerals

Minerals are inorganic solid natural substances with a fixed chemical composition. There are three types: magmatic, sedimentary, and metamorphic. They have certain physical constant properties that identify them: tenacity, luster, cleavage (exfoliation), streak, color, and purity.

Most minerals are made up of a small number of chemical elements: silicon, oxygen, potassium, sodium, calcium, aluminum, magnesium, and iron. They are classified into:

• Metallic minerals: Galena, magnetite, bauxite, etc.
• Non-metallic minerals: Quartz, mica, kaolin, etc.

Formation and Types of Biomolecules

The formation of biomolecules includes water and inorganic minerals, as well as organic molecules: glycosides, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids. These form cells that give rise to unicellular and multicellular organisms.

Applications of Water and Minerals in Life

Water applications: It is used as the basis for chemical reactions, for the transport of substances, to give shape to cells, and to regulate body temperature.

The minerals: They are the solid and hard parts of living things (such as the covered skeletons of shellfish). In solution as ions, they intervene in chemical reactions and maintain health as part of molecules like hemoglobin.

Glycosides and Carbohydrates

Glycosides or carbohydrates have an energy and structural function. They consist of hydrogen, carbon, and oxygen and are divided into:

• Monosaccharides (3 to 8 carbon atoms): Examples include glucose, fructose, ribose, and galactose.
• Disaccharides: Formed by two monosaccharides.
• Polysaccharides: The union of several monosaccharides, such as glycogen, starch (from potatoes), and cellulose.

Glycosides include examples of monosaccharides, disaccharides, and polysaccharides.

Proteins and Their Functions

Proteins are polymers of amino acids. There are 20 different amino acids composed of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur. Their functions include:

• Enzyme function: They speed up chemical reactions.
• Structural: They are part of the cell structure.
• Transport: They carry substances from one part of the body to another.
• Defense: Antibodies, which allow us to defend against viruses and bacteria, are proteins.

Structure of proteins: The order in which the amino acids are arranged is called the primary structure, which is responsible for the function. Denaturation is the loss of the structure and, therefore, the function.