Chemistry of Life

Element

A substance that cannot be broken down into simpler substances.

Each element is identified by a one or two letter symbol. Ca = Calcium C = Carbon

Trace Element Present in living things in very small amounts.

Atom

Smallest particle of an element that has all the characteristics of that element.

Structure of the Atom

Nucleus Protons (positive)

Each element has a different number of protons.The number of protons determines the characteristics of

each element Determines the atomic number.

Neutrons (neutral)Atomic mass – atomic number = average number of

neutrons

Structure of the Atom

Electron Cloud Electrons (negative)

Electrons surround the nucleus because of the attraction between the opposite charges.

All the electrons occupy distinct energy levels.

Structure of the Atom

All atoms have the same number of protons and electrons, so the atoms have a neutral charge.

Isotope

Atoms of the same element which vary in the number of neutrons they contain are called isotopes.

Isotopes are named by the total number of neutrons and protons in the atom. Example: Carbon-12 and Carbon-14

Some isotopes can be radioactive.

Compound

A substance composed of atoms of two or more different elements that are chemically combined.

Atoms combine with other atoms only when the resulting compound is more stable than the individual atoms.

Atoms become stable when their outermost energy level is full.

How do atoms fill their outermost energy level?

Form a covalent bond and share their electrons with another atom. A molecule is a group of atoms held together by

covalent bonds.

How do atoms fill their outermost energy level?

Form ions by giving away electrons or take electrons from other atoms. When atoms do this they gain either a positive or

a negative charge. Ions with opposite charges can form compounds

through ionic bonding.

Chemical Reactions

Occur when bonds are formed or broken, causing substances to recombine into different substances.

The substances that undergo the chemical reactions are called the reactants.

The substances formed by the chemical reaction are called the products.

Chemical Reactions

The substance created by a chemical reaction has different properties than the reactants that formed it.

Atoms are never created or destroyed in chemical reactions, but simply rearranged.

Represented by writing chemical equations.

Chemical Reactions

In organisms, chemical reactions occur inside cells. All the chemical reactions occurring within an

organism are referred to as the organism’s metabolism.

Mixture

A combination of substances in which the individual components retain their own properties.

A solution is a mixture in which one or more substances (solutes) are distributed evenly in another substance (solvent).

The more solute dissolved in a solvent, the greater the concentration of the solution.

pH

A measure of how acidic or basic a solution is.

Measured on a scale of 0 to 14. A substance with a pH of 7 is considered

neutral.

Acid

Any substance that forms hydrogen (H+) ions in water.

pH below 7.

Base

Any substance which forms hydroxide ions (OH-) in water.

pH above 7.