Topic B Flashcards
Any living material that is composed of atoms and takes up space
Matter
Elements required in large amounts and make up the majority of living cells
Bulk elements
What are the four most abundant elements in living cells?
Carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, and oxygen
Elements that are required in living systems but in small amounts
Trace elements
Give two examples of trace elements
Iron and zinc
How are elements identified?
By the number of protons
An atom’s nucleus contains
Protons and neutrons
What charge do protons have?
Positive charge
What charge do neutrons have?
Neutral (no charge)
What charge do electrons have?
Negative charge
The atomic number of an atom is determined by what?
The number of protons
Atoms can gain or lose charge. An atom with a charge is a what?
Ion
When does an ion have a positive charge?
When electrons are lost
When does an ion have a negative charge?
When electrons are gained
The mass number of an atom is
The number of protons + the number of neutrons
What is the difference between an atom and an element?
An atom is the smallest unit of matter. An element is a substance made up of only one type of atom.