Lecture 2: Chemistry and Water Flashcards
what is matter
anything that takes up space and has mass
what is an atom
the smallest functional units of matter
what are elemnts
substances that cannot be broken down into other substances
What element makes up our macromolecules
Carbon
protons
positive charge
neutrons
neutral charge
electrons
negative charge
where are protons and neutrons located in the atom
they are clustered around the center of the atom
where are electrons located in the atom
they are in a fixed distance and move in an orbit around the nucleus
how many electrons are in the first orbit surrounding the nucleus?
at most up to two electrons
how many electrons are found in the second shell orbiting the nucleus?
second shell will hold 8 electrons
when are atoms most stable?
when their outermost shell is built with 8 electrons
what happens when atoms are less stable
they lose some of their different particles which cause radiation; but they can share electrons and form bonds to become more stable
what is an ion
element that has a different number of electrons
Anion
ion with an extra electron (H^-1)
Cation
ion missing an electron (H^+1)
Can electrons grab onto free energy
yes
free radicals
formed by electrons; when an atom or molecule has a single, unpaired electron in its outer shell; can harm a cell’s DNA and essential functions;
can be caused by cigs and UV rays; antioxidants help
atomic number
how many protons it has
mass number
weight; determined by the number of protons and neutrons (electrons have no weight)
isotopes
atoms of an element that have a different number of neutrons than protons (hydrogen)
radioisotopes
unstable and emit particles and energy in order to stabilize themselves; odd number of neutrons;
their radiation can be used for X-rays and treatment for cancer
why are electrons important
1) can form bonds and are then stuck together
2) determine if the atom is an ion
3) capture and transfer energy
4) form destructive free radicals
molecule
two or more atoms linked by bonds