Basic Chemistry
THE CHEMISTRY OF LIFE (Review 1-7)
I. Basic Chemistry
A. Elements 1. Definition- an element is a substance composed of a single type of atom
2. Major elements of the human body
3. Trace elements of the body
B. Atoms
1. Definition- the atom is the smallest part of an element which cannot be broken down further by ordinary chemical means. Atoms are composed of protons, neutrons and electrons.
2. Particles that make up atoms
a. proton- a subatomic particle found in the nucleus having a mass of 1 and a charge of +1
b. neutron- a subatomic particle found in the nucleus having a mass of 1 and a neutral charge c. electrons- are subatomic particles found orbiting the nucleus with a charge of -1
The nucleus
a. The protons and neutrons are contained in the central core (nucleus) of the atom. Most of the atom’s mass is concentrated in the nucleus.
b. In an electrically neutral atom, the number of electrons (negative charge) equals the number of protons (positive charge).
4. Terminology
a. atomic number- equal to the number of protons in the nucleus
b. atomic weight- the average mass of atoms of an element
c. atomic mass- the mass of a specific atom
d. Molecule- the chemical combination of two or more atoms
e. Formula- the written representation using letters as symbols for the chemical structure of a molecule
5. Orbitals and Electrons a. Electrons (-) attracted to protons (+) and orbit nucleus in various shells b. The further electron orbital from nucleus, the greater potential energy 1. To move electrons from nucleus to outer orbital requires energy input 6. Atoms React a. Atoms with full outermost orbital shells are stable b. Atoms with "unfilled" orbitals in their outermost shell tend to be reactive with other atoms. 1. Orbitals contain 2, 8, 8 etc. electrons
I. Basic Chemistry
A. Elements 1. Definition- an element is a substance composed of a single type of atom
2. Major elements of the human body
3. Trace elements of the body
B. Atoms
1. Definition- the atom is the smallest part of an element which cannot be broken down further by ordinary chemical means. Atoms are composed of protons, neutrons and electrons.
2. Particles that make up atoms
a. proton- a subatomic particle found in the nucleus having a mass of 1 and a charge of +1
b. neutron- a subatomic particle found in the nucleus having a mass of 1 and a neutral charge c. electrons- are subatomic particles found orbiting the nucleus with a charge of -1
The nucleus
a. The protons and neutrons are contained in the central core (nucleus) of the atom. Most of the atom’s mass is concentrated in the nucleus.
b. In an electrically neutral atom, the number of electrons (negative charge) equals the number of protons (positive charge).
4. Terminology
a. atomic number- equal to the number of protons in the nucleus
b. atomic weight- the average mass of atoms of an element
c. atomic mass- the mass of a specific atom
d. Molecule- the chemical combination of two or more atoms
e. Formula- the written representation using letters as symbols for the chemical structure of a molecule
5. Orbitals and Electrons a. Electrons (-) attracted to protons (+) and orbit nucleus in various shells b. The further electron orbital from nucleus, the greater potential energy 1. To move electrons from nucleus to outer orbital requires energy input 6. Atoms React a. Atoms with full outermost orbital shells are stable b. Atoms with "unfilled" orbitals in their outermost shell tend to be reactive with other atoms. 1. Orbitals contain 2, 8, 8 etc. electrons