Chemical Context of Life Chap2

Question 1

What are all living things made of?

Answer 1

All living things are made of matter, and depend on molecules and compounds to survive. Matter is defined as “anything that takes up space and has mass”, matter is made up of elements, which are the simplest form of matter which CANNOT be broken down into other substances by chemical reactions.

Question 2

What does matter consist of?

Answer 2

Matter consists of chemical elements in pure form and in combinations called compounds. Two or more elements combined together in a specific ration form a compound. Compounds have emergent properties that do not exist in the individual elements prior to chemical bonding.

Question 3

What is 96% of living matter composed of?

Answer 3

Oxygen, Carbon, Hydrogen, and Nitrogen. The other percentages are trace elements that are vital in very small amounts.

Question 4

Protons

Answer 4

Positively charged ions that determine the element.

Question 5

Neutrons

Answer 5

No charge, determines isotope.

Question 6

Electrons

Answer 6

Negative charge, forms negative cloud and determine chemical behavior.

Question 7

How is the mass number calculated?

Answer 7

By adding the number of protons and the number of neutrons in the nucleus together.

Question 8

What are atoms of elements that exist with more neutrons than protons?

Answer 8

Isotopes. Isotopes are used in biology as radioactive tracers as well as in radiometric dating. The increased number of neutrons causes the atom to become unstable and therefor radioactive.

Question 9

What are electron shell orbitals?

Answer 9

The volume of space where the electrons are most likely to be found. The shape of electron orbitals affect the shape of molecules and compounds when atoms bond together.

Question 10

What is electron configuration?

Answer 10

The determination of how elements bond together, with the goal of each atom to contain a complete valence shell of electrons.

Question 11

Covalent bond (ex)

Answer 11

When two atoms SHARE valence electrons.

Question 12

Nonpolar Covalent bonds

Answer 12

EVENLY shared electrons between atoms

Question 13

Polar Covalent bonds

Answer 13

UNEVEN sharing of electrons due to difference in electronegativity.

Question 14

Ionic bonds?

Answer 14

Bonds formed when oppositely charged ions (cations and anions) are attracted to each other.

Question 15

What do Chemical reactions do?

Answer 15

Make and break chemical bonds.