Elements and Atoms Flashcards
1
Q
What is matter?
A
It occupies space and has mass
2
Q
What is mass?
A
The amount of mass an object has
3
Q
What are chemical elements?
A
Building blocks of matter (all matter is composed of 1 or more of the 92 elements)
4
Q
What are elements?
A
- Pure substances that are unable to be broken down or destroyed
- from the environment
- each element has an atomic # (this represents the # of protons)
- the human body can’t make elements, it makes compounds from elements
5
Q
What are some essential elements?
A
- calcium
- potassium
6
Q
Tell me about the element calcium
A
- atomic #: 20
- digestive system breaks food down and calcium goes into the bloodstream
- ends up in the bones
7
Q
Tell me about the element potassium
A
- atomic #: 19
- usually occurs as an ion
- important for cells
- important for the production of action potential
8
Q
What are compounds?
A
- combining of elements through chemical bonds
- the same structure always makes the same compound
9
Q
What are some essential compounds?
A
- water
- glucose
10
Q
What are the 4 main elements of the human body?
A
- Oxygen 65%
- Carbon 18.5%
- Hydrogen 9.5%
- Nitrogen 3.2%
- this is 96% of organic compounds in the human body
11
Q
Why is oxygen important?
A
- oxygen is important in water molecules
- oxygen is important in the production of ATP
12
Q
Why is carbon important?
A
- carbon is the main component of many structures
- carbon forms the backbone for molecules
13
Q
What is hydrogen important?
A
- hydrogen is in all organ molecules and in water
- hydrogen contributes to acidity
14
Q
Why is nitrogen important?
A
- nitrogen is important for proteins, amino acids, and nucleic acids (DNA, RNA)
