Chemistry review Flashcards
What is an element
A pure substance that cannot be broken down into simple substances. Consists of one type of atom.
What is an atom?
Smallest component of an element and retains the properties of that element.
3 subatomic particle
Protons (positive charge)
Electrons (Negative Charge)
Neutrons (Neutral Charge)
Atomic Number
Determined by number of protons which equals to the number of electrons
Mass number
Number of protons+neutrons
Neutrons
Mass Number - Atomic Number
Isotopes
Atoms of the same element that have a different mass number hence different number of neutrons.
Radioisotopes
Isotopes that break down and decay to emit radiation
Half life
Radioisotopes have half life which mean that the amount of time it takes for half of the atoms in a sample to decay
Columns of a periodic table
groups/ families
Rows of periodic table
periods
alkali metals
highly reactive and with one electron
noble gases
full valence shell and are inert.
Molecule
made of 2 or more atoms of the same or different element. Smallest unit of the substance.
Organic molecules
Carbon based. Bonded to each other and to hydrogen. Can include other atoms of nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, and sulfur.
Biochemistry
Study of the activity and properties of biologically important molecules in order to understand their functions in the cell and in living systems.
Valence electrons
electrons of the outermost shell of an atom. Determine reactivity of the atom.
Why do atoms bond
To fill the outermost valence shell(octet rule). Once that is done the atom is stable.
Intramolecular forces
force that holds atoms together within a molecule. 2 types: covalent and ionic bonds.
Ionic Bonds
attractions between ions formed when metals lose electrons to non-metals
cations
an atom LOSES electrons, it acquires a positive charge
anion
an atom gains electrons, it acquires a negative charge
covalent bonds
non-metallic atoms share electrons. 2 types: non polar and polar. determined by electronegativity which is the different ability for atoms to attract electrons.
non polar
If identical atoms bond, neither atom is more electronegative, therefore they share electrons example O2, Br2. Molecule is referred to as non polar molecule and the bond is non polar covalent bond.