Chemistry of Life

Matter
Occupies space and
has mass
Mass
How much matter
an object has
Weight
Force of gravity
pulling on an object

http://www.rgvchallengerlearningcenter.com/Space%20walk1.jpg

Elements and Atoms

Elements
Cannot be broken down
into simpler kinds of
matter
More than 100 exist
Fewer than 30 are
important to life
90% of biomass is:
H , O, N, C

Atoms and Molecules

Atom:

The smallest unit of an element

having all the characteristics of
that element

Electrons: negative, orbit around the

nucleus, almost no mass
Protons: positive, in nucleus, mass of 1
Neutrons: neutral, in nucleus, mass of 1

http://education.jlab.org/qa/atom_model_02.gif

Atoms and Molecules

Molecules

The smallest particle

of a substance that
retains the properties
of the substance;
composed of two or
more atoms

http://www.sdsc.edu/GatherScatter/gsmar94/Images/molecule.gif

What do you remember from

Junior High Science?
Atomic Number:
Number of protons

Mass Number:

Protons + Neutrons

Ion:

+ or - charged atom

Isotope:

Atoms of the same element with

different numbers of neutrons
(and therefore different masses)

http://serc.carleton.edu/images/introgeo/quantskills/CFourteen.gif

Ionic Bonds
When one atom donates e- to another atom.
Leads to + and - charged atoms
Attracted to each other
Overall, the molecule is neutral

Covalent Bonds
When atoms SHARE e- to form a
neutral molecule

H
C

Methane