Basic Chemistry - Atoms, Ions, and Chemical Bonds

Question 1

What are atoms made of?

Answer 1

• Atomic nucleus containing neutrons (no electrical charge) and protons (1 positive charge)
• Electron cloud containing electrons (1 negative charge)

Question 2

What is the simplest atom?

Answer 2

Hydrogen which contains one proton and one electron

Question 3

What is electrostatic force?

Answer 3

Particles of opposite charge are attracted to each other

Particles of the same charge are repulsed by each other

Question 4

What are valence electrons?

Answer 4

The electrons in the most outer part of the atomic shell. and will participate in chemical reactions

Question 5

What happens if an atom gives away an electron?

Answer 5

It loses negative charge and therefore becomes more positive

Question 6

What happens if an atom gains an electron

Answer 6

It gains more negative charge and therefore becomes more negative. Becoming more negative can also be described as reducing charge.

Reduction means gaining an electron

Question 7

What are oxidation reactions?

Answer 7

O I L - Oxidation is loss of an electron by a substance

Question 8

What are reduction reactions?

Answer 8

R I G - Reduction is gaining of an electron by a substance

Question 9

What happens when an atom gains or loses one or more valence electrons?

Answer 9

Becomes an ion

Positively charged ion - CATION

Negatively charged ion - ANION

Question 10

What are ions in the body referred to as?

Answer 10

Electrolytes, which are important for transmitting electrical signals

Question 11

Why are ions important in the body?

Answer 11

Electrical signalling, enzyme activity, regulating fluid balance, bone and teeth structure

Question 12

What are some common ions in the body?

Answer 12

Sodium Na+

Chloride Cl-

Calcium CA2+

Potassium K+

Question 13

What is an ionic bond?

Answer 13

Once an oxidation/reduction reaction occurs, there will be two oppositely charged ions

Oppositely charged ions will be attracted to each other

Attraction holds ions together to form a molecule

Next strongest bond

Question 14

What is covalent bonding?

Answer 14

The sharing of electrons - strongest bond

Question 15

Non-polar molecules

Answer 15

The electrons are shared evenly

Question 16

Polar molecules

Answer 16

Electrons not shared evenly

Question 17

Uneven sharing of electrons

Answer 17

Causes partial charge differences across the surface of the molecule.

Some parts postive

Some parts negative

Question 18

What is hydrogen bonding?

Answer 18

Partial charge differences across the surface of the molecules make them attracted to the opposite charge, or opposite partial charge, of other ions or molecules

Weakest bond

Question 19

What is metabolism?

Answer 19

All of the chemical reactions that in the body

Some factors can increase the rate of metabolism - thyroid hormone

Question 20

How is energy related to chemical reactions?

Answer 20

• Formation of chemical bonds requires energy
• Chemical bonds store energy
• When chemical bonds break energy is released some of which is lost in the form of heat

Question 21

What is ATP?

Answer 21

Adenosine triphosphate which is often used to provide energy within cells

Question 22

What is activation energy?

Answer 22

The initial energy required to initiate a chemical reaction

breaking of bonds - chemical reaction releasing energy

Formation of bonds - chemical reaction taking up and storing energy

Question 23

What are enzymes?

Answer 23

• Enzymes are proteins which make chemical reactions more likely to occur
• Lower the activation energy required to initiate chemical reactions
• increase rate of chemical reactions
• Thousands of different enzymes in the body with each regulating a particular chemical reaction
• Enzymes control metabolism