Chapter 2: The Chemical Context of Life Flashcards
(38 cards)
matter
anything that takes up space & has mass
Element
substance that con’t be broken down to other substance by chemical reactions
__, __, __, and __ makeup 96% of life
Carbon, Oxygen, Hydrogen, & Nitrogen
Compound
substance consisting of 2 or more elements in a fixed ration
Trace Elements
needed in minute elements
atomic number
number of protons
Mass Number
sum of protons & neutrons in nucleus
Atomic Mass
atom’s total mass; approximated by mass #
isotopes
same # of protons but diff # neutrons
Radioactive Isotopes
give off particles & energy
- can sometimes lose protons => daughter (new) element
Energy
capacity to cause change
Potential Energy
energy that matter has bc of its location or structure
- electrons of atom differ in their amts of PE
state of PE
energy level/electron shell
Valence Electrons
electrons in outermost shell
chemical behavior of an atom is determined by
valence electrons
Types of Chemical Bonds
Covalent
Ionic
Hydrogen
Chemical Bond
attractions that result in atoms staying close together
Covalent
sharing electrons
Ionic
one atom steals electrons
Hydrogen
weakly donate electrons
2 Types of Covalent Bonds
nonpolar
polar
What is the strongest of all bonds?
covalent
Electronegativity
an atom’s attraction for electrons in covalent bond (affinity)
the more electronegative…
the stronger the atom pulls the electron(s) toward itself