1.1 - The Fundamental Chemistry of Life

Question 1

What is the compsition living things?

Answer 1

96%: Carbon, Oxygen, Hydrogen, Nitrogen

Approximately 4%: Calcium, Phosphorus, Potassium, Sulphur, Sodium, Chlorine, Magnesium

<0.1% (Trace Elements): Iodine, Iron

Question 2

What are atoms composed of? What are their charge

Answer 2

Atoms are composed of: Protons
(+), Electrons (-) and Neutrons (0)

Question 3

What does the number of protons determine?

Answer 3

Determines the type of element

Question 4

Why are atoms neutral?

Answer 4

They have the same number of Protons as Electrons

Question 5

What is atomic mass?

Answer 5

Atomic Mass: The weight of Protons + Neutrons

Question 6

What are isotopes?

Answer 6

A form of an element that has the same # of protons but different # of neutrons

Question 7

What are radioisotopes?

Answer 7

Unstable Isotope that decays giving off radiation

Question 8

What can radioisotopes do?

Answer 8

Transforms into an atom of another element

Question 9

What is radiactive decay? Why do we use it?

Answer 9

Occurs at a steady and measurable rate. Can be used to determine the age of rocks and fossils

Question 10

What are radioactive tracers?

Answer 10

Radioisotopes can be used to trace the path of atoms throughout the body.

Question 11

What are Ionic Bonds?

Answer 11

Bond that forms between two oppositely charged atoms/molecules

Positive Cation and Negative Anion

Question 12

What are Covalent Bonds?

Answer 12

When atoms share valence electrons

Question 13

What is electronegativity?

Answer 13

The measure of an atom’s attraction to shared electrons

Question 14

What is a polar covalent bond?

Answer 14

An unequal sharing of electrons

Question 15

What molecules are water soluble? Which are not?

Answer 15

Polar Molecules are generally water soluble

Non-polar Molecules are generally not water soluble

Question 16

What kind of attraction happens with high electronegativity? Low electronegativity?

Answer 16

HIGH Electronegativity = strong attraction of e-

LOW Electronegativity = weak attraction of e-

Question 17

What is hydrogen bonding?

Answer 17

Attractive force between slightly positive hydrogen atoms and a slightly negative atom in another molecule

Question 18

What is dipolo-dipole bonding?

Answer 18

Attractive force between slightly positive atoms (not hydrogen) and a slightly negative atom in another molecule

Question 19

What is Van Der Waal Forces?

Answer 19

Very weak attractions between two molecules, or parts of molecules when they are close together

Question 20

What is a dehydration reaction?

Answer 20

Involves the joining of two molecules through the removal of water

One molecule loses a Hydrogen atom while the other loses an –OH group

Question 21

What is a hydrolysis reaction?

Answer 21

Involves splitting a larger molecule apart by adding a water molecule

Adds an –OH group to one molecule and a Hydrogen atom to the other

Question 22

What is neutralization reaction?

Answer 22

A reaction in which an acid and a base combine to create a salt and water

Question 23

What is redox reaction?

Answer 23

An electron transfer reaction

Question 24

What is reduction? Oxidation?

Answer 24

Reduction – gaining of electrons

Oxidation – loss of electrons