Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Chapter 2 Basic Chemistry
Chapter 2 Basic Chemistry
Composition of Matter
Define chemical element and list the four elements that form the bulk of body matter.
o Unique substances that cannot be broken down into simpler substances by ordinary
chemical methods
o Carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen make up 96% of body weight
Explain how elements and atoms are related.
o Atoms are the building blocks of elements
o Because all elements are unique, the atoms of each element differ from those of all other
elements – change the atom, change the element
List the subatomic particles and describe their relative masses, charges, and positions in the atom.
o Protons – positive charge, found in nucleus, heavy mass (1 atomic mass unit)
o Neutrons – neutral charge, found in nucleus, heavy mass (1 atomic mass unit)
o Electrons – negative charge, found orbiting outside nucleus, mass is so small it equals
0amu
Define radioisotope and describe briefly how radioisotopes are used in the diagnosis and
treatment of disease.
o Heavier isotopes of certain atoms are unstable and tend to decompose to become more
stable
o They are used in tiny amounts to tag biological molecules so that they can be followed, or
traced, through the body such as in PET scans
Recognize that chemical reactions involve the interaction of electrons to make and break chemical
bonds.
Define molecule and explain how molecules are related to compounds.
o Form when two or more atoms combine chemically
When two+ atoms of the same element bond together, a molecule of the element
forms
When two+ atoms of different elements bond together to form a molecule, it is called
a compound
Differentiate between ionic, polar covalent, and nonpolar covalent bonds, and describe the
importance of hydrogen bonds.
o Ionic – form when electrons are completely transferred from one atom to another forming
ions – typical of salts
o Covalent – form when electrons are shared in such a way that each atom is able to fill its
valence shell at least part of the time
Polar – covalent bond where the electrons are not shared equally and the electrons
spend more time with the larger atom giving it a negative charge and the opposite
atom a positive charge – water
Nonpolar – covalent bond where the electrons are shared equally giving the
molecule no charge – carbon dioxide
o Hydrogen bonds – extremely weak bonds between hydrogen and another positively
charged atom such as oxygen or nitrogen that give water its surface tension properties –
also important intramolecular bonds that help bind different parts of molecules together to
form a specific 3-D structure such as in proteins
Contrast synthesis, decomposition, and exchange reactions.
o Synthesis – occur when two+ atoms or molecules combine to form a larger more complex
molecule ( A + B AB)
o Decomposition – occurs when a molecule is broken down into smaller molecules, atoms,
or ions (AB A + B)
o Exchange – both synthesis and decomposition reactions with bonds made and broken – a
switch is made between molecule parts and different molecules are made (AB + C AC +
B) or (AB + CD AD + CB)