Chapter 2: Chemical

Context of Life
pp.32-46 in Campbell 7th Ed.
(Review of General Chemistry)
 Familiar Terms?
• Matter – takes up space, has mass

• Element – cannot be broken to other substances

• Compound – 2+ different elements combined in a fixed

ratio

• Essential Elements – essential to life (25 of 92

naturally occurring elements)

• Trace Elements – required by organisms in minute

quantities
 …Continued…
• Atom

• Neutrons

• Protons

• Electrons

• Dalton – unit to measure atoms, subatomic particles,

molecules
– 1 dalton = 1amu

• Atomic Number - # p+ and e-

 …There’s More…
• Mass Number – sum of p+ and n0

• Atomic Mass – approximation of total mass of an

atom
 Isotopes
• Isotope

• Radioactive Isotope – isotope in which nucleus decays spontaneously, giving

off particles and energy
– When decay leads to change in # p +, atom transforms to atom of a different
element
– Uses:
• Dates fossils
• Tracers used to follow atoms through metabolism
• Diagnostic tool
– Hazards:
• Damages cell molecules
• Radioactive fallout
• Doses
 Energy
• An atom is mostly made up of empty space

• Energy – capacity to cause change

• Potential Energy – stored energy

• Energy Levels – different states of potential energy

that electrons have in an atom
Electron Shells
 More with Electrons
• Electron Configuration – distribution of electrons
determines chemical behavior

• Valence Electrons – outermost e-’s

• Valence Shell – outermost electron shell

• Electron Orbital – 3-D space where an electron is

found 90% of the time
 Orbitals:

1s 2py

2px 2pz
 Bonds
• Chemical Bonds – atoms stay close together because of
attractions

• Ionic Bond – two atoms so unequal in their attraction for

valence electrons that the more electronegative atom strips
an electron completely away from its partner

• Covalent Bond – sharing a pair of valence electrons

• Single Bond – a pair of shared electrons

• Double Bond – two pairs of valence electrons that are

shared
 Bonding Terms
• Molecule – two or more atoms held together by
covalent bonds

• Structural Formula – represents both atoms and

bonding

• Molecular Formula – indicates how many of each

molecule exists
 Valence
• An atoms bonding capacity
 Electronegativity
• The attraction of a particular kind of
atom for the electrons of a covalent
bond

• Greater electronegativity = stronger

pull of shared electrons toward itself

• Nonpolar Covalent Bond – electrons

are shared equally

• Polar Covalent Bond – unequal sharing

of electrons
 Yes, more terms…
• Ion
• Cation
• Anion
• Salts or Ionic Compounds – formed by ionic bonds
 Weak Chemical Bonds
• Ionic Bonds

• Hydrogen Bonds

• Van der Waals Interactions

 Ionic Bond
• More electronegative atom strips an electron away from its
partner
 Hydrogen Bond
• A hydrogen atom covalently bonded to one electronegative atom
is attracted to another electronegative atom (usually O or N)
 Van der Waals Interactions
• Occur only when atoms and molecules are close together
– Changing “hot spots” of positive and negative charge that enable all
atoms and molecules to stick to one another
 Molecular Shape and Function
• Molecule of two atoms = linear

• Atom with valence electrons in s

and p orbital = tetrahedron
(pyramid) shape

• Shape determines how biological

molecules recognize each other
 Chemical Reactions
• Making and breaking of chemical bonds
leading to changes in the composition of
matter

• Law of Conservation of Matter

• Reactants

• Products

• Chemical Equilibrium