Natural Science and

Technology for the classroom

NST1501

Ms J Broadhurst
Learning Unit 1: Life and
Living
Lesson 2 Atoms, Molecules
and Life
 Definitions
Matter Atom
Matter refers to any physical Matter is made up of atoms. An
substance that occupies space atom is the basic building
and has a mass. blocks of matter.

Compound
Element
A pure substance made up of more
A pure substance made up of
than one element chemically
one type of atom that cannot be
bonded. A compound can only be
broken down into another
broken down through a chemical
substance
reaction
Positive + An Atom

Neutral 0

Negative -
The periodic table
 Understanding the numbers

Atomic number Atomic mass number

Determined by the number Refers to the number of
of protons protons and neutrons

Basic math
Atomic mass number-
Atomic number = no. of
neutrons

7–3=4
Lithium has 4 neutrons
and 3 protons
 Isotopes

Atoms of an element that have differing numbers of neutrons

Isotopes of Hydrogen
 Molecules

A chemical bond is an attraction between atoms that allows the

formation of chemical substances that contain two or more atoms.
For example, water is formed by the interaction between two atoms
of hydrogen and one of oxygen

A water molecule
 Compounds

When two or more elements are joined together through

chemical bonds, they become a compound. For example,
a water molecule which is made up of an oxygen element
and two hydrogen elements is a compound.

Organic Compound
Inorganic Compound
Organic compounds have a
Do not have a carbon
carbon element and
element and are not
usually occur from
derived from living
materials that were once
material
alive.
 Chemical bonds

A hydrogen bond is a chemical

bond between a hydrogen atom A metallic bond is a force that holds
and an electronegative atom. atoms together in a metallic substance
E.g. Aluminium foil
E.g. 3 molecules of Hydrogen
bonded to one molecule of
nitrogen to form ammonia (NH3)
Mixtures