Atoms and Molecules

Basic units of EVERYTHING!

 Which of these is true?
1. “Atom” and
“molecule” mean 82%
the same thing.
2. Atoms are made of
molecules.
3. Molecules are
made of atoms.
15%

3%

1 2 3
What is the smallest structure in this list that can be seen
with an ordinary desk microscope?

1. Cells. 38%
35%
2. Cell nucleus.
3. Atoms.
4. Chain molecules,
18%
such as proteins.
10%

1 2 3 4
Atoms
In our model of scale, remember that the
BB represented an atom.
 Electrons

Hydrogen Helium
Neutrons
Protons

As a class, identify the atoms represented here and label the sub-
atomic particles.
 Carbon Oxygen Phosphorous Calcium

What elements are represented here? Use the Periodic Table on

the wall to identify these atoms.

What does the term “valence shell” mean? Label the valence shell
on each of these.
 Ions
Loss or gain of an Losing an electron
electron makes an makes a positive or
- negative ion?
atom into an ion.

Gaining an electron makes

a positive or negative ion?
-
 Isotopes

Atoms that gain or lose a

neutron become isotopes.

Radioactive isotopes are used

in medicine for imaging (such
as PET scanners).
 Why is this important?

• Each element has distinct properties:

color, melting point, reactivity, etc.
• The basic atomic structure of each
element determines that element’s
properties. Change the structure, and
you have an entirely different element.
 Which of these is found in the
nucleus of an atom?
78%

1. Protons
2. Electrons
3. DNA
4. Depends on the
atom
11%
6% 6%

1 2 3 4
An ion is an atom that has lost or
gained:
83%

1. An electron
2. A proton
3. A neutron
4. Any sub-atomic
particle
11%
6%
0%

1 2 3 4
T or F: An atomic nucleus and a cell
nucleus are about the same size.
33% 33% 33%

1. True
2. False
3. Depends on which
cell and which atom.

1 2 3
 Atoms bond together

• Molecules are made up of atoms bonded

together.
• The structure of an individual atom
determines:
• Whether the atom can form bonds.
• How many other atoms it can bond to.
In our model of scale, remember that the
marble represented a small molecule, such
as glucose.
How many atoms
can each of these
atoms bond with?

How do we know?
 1
4

3
2

5
2

Fill in the blank column with number of covalent bonds formed

by each atom.
Ionic Bonding
Ionic substances tend to form crystaline lattices rather
than distinct molecules.
 Covalent Bonding
Co = together
valent = valence
shells

The hydrogen atom. How many bonds can it form?

 Covalent bonding

A hydrogen
molecule. How
many hydrogen
atoms are
involved? Can
there be more?
Why or why
not?
 W
O
R
K

• Describe in your own words the T

difference between ionic and covalent O
bonding. G
E
T
H
E
R
Covalent Bonding
Polar bonding between atoms produces a polar molecule,
which has areas with slightly positive or slightly negative
charges.
 W
O
R
K

• Describe in your own words the T

difference between nonpolar and polar O
covalent bonding G
E
T
H
E
R
When atoms bond together, they
make:
20% 20% 20% 20% 20%

1. Cells
2. Molecules
3. More atoms
4. Ions
5. Isotopes

1 2 3 4 5
 Which of these is true?
94%
1. Molecules and cells are
about the same size.
2. Molecules are much
smaller than cells.
3. Cells are much smaller
than molecules.
4. “Cell” and “molecule”
mean the same thing. 6%
0% 0%

1 2 3 4
Which kind of bond between atoms creates
a distinct molecule?
44%
1. Ionic bonding 39%
2. Covalent bonding
3. Both ionic and
covalent bonding.
17%

1 2 3
Which is true about polar covalent
bonding?
1. An electron is shared
94%
equally between two
atoms.
2. An electron is shared
unequally between
two atoms.
3. An electron leaves one
atoms and becomes
part of another.
6%
0%

1 2 3
True or false? The atomic “shell” is a cell
membrane.

88%
1. True
2. False

13%

1 2
Why is polarity so important?

Salt dissolves in water. Oil does not.

Why?

What will oil dissolve in? Why?

 W
O
R
• Is a water molecule in the gas phase K
larger than, smaller than, or the same
size as a water molecule in the solid T
O
phase?
G
• Describe what happens to water E
molecules as liquid water evaporates. T
H
E
R
 Molecules bond together

Weak attractive forces between

molecules are called hydrogen
bonds.
Here, sugar (a polar substance) is in solution with
water (also polar). Mark where the hydrogen bonds
will form.
 Hydrogen bonding occurs:
25% 25% 25% 25%
1. Between atoms.
2. Between molecules.
3. Between cells
4. Between any
particles.

1 2 3 4
 Hydrogen bonding is:
1. Strong and difficult 33% 33% 33%
to break, like polar
covalent bonding.
2. A strong attraction
between charged
ions, like ionic
bonding.
3. A weak attraction
between polar
molecules.
1 2 3
 Properties of Water
• Water is:
• Cohesive
• Adhesive
• A “universal solvent”
• Water also has:
• A high specific heat
• A high heat of vaporization
pH is a ratio between H+ and OH- ions in solution.
 W
O
R
K
• One unusual property of water is that it
is less dense in the solid stage than in the T
liquid stage, which causes ice to float. O
Why does water become less dense as it G
freezes? Use what you learned about E
hydrogen bonding between molecules. T
H
E
R
 Recap

1. What is the difference between atoms

and molecules?
2. What is the difference between ionic
bonding and polar covalent bonding?
3. How is polarity related to pH?