Introduction to Chemistry

Compounds - combinations of elements (ex. Hemoglobin

(compound) contains Fe (element)
Organic compounds - all contain carbon -ex. Carbohydrates,
lipids, proteins, nucleic acids
inorganic compounds - do not contain carbon (ex.
Table salt = NaCl)
C6H12O6 24 total atoms
Atoms - smallest particle of an element that has the elements
properties
Protons (+) = Atomic number
Neutrons (no charge)
Protons and neutrons together make up the nucleus
Electrons (-) used to form bonds with other elements
Changes in the number of electrons causes atoms to become +
or
Outer most energy level (orbit) likes to be full more stable that
way
Atoms will give up, gain, or share electrons to fill the outer orbit
Sodium wants to give up the last electron whereas Chlorine
rd
wants to gain an electron to fill the 3 level with 8 electrons
Atoms bond with other atoms to become more stable
Ions - atoms that gain or lose an electron and have a charge
Chemical Bond -The force that holds atoms together
When a chemical bond is broken, energy is absorbed
or released
IONIC BONDING
Electrons are lost by one element and gained by another
Outer energy level in both elements is full (stable)
Ionic bond- a bond b/w oppositely
charged molecules
COVALENT BOND
A bond where electrons are shared (carbs, lipids, proteins &
nuc. Acids); three types: single, double, triple
One element loses e- & the other element gains eCOVALENT BONDING
Electrons shared in a chemical bond (each atom donates one
electron)
Outer energy level in both elements is full (stable)
Double covalent bonds have four electrons
Triple covalent bonds have six electrons
Polar Covalent bond w/ unequal sharing of electrons those
results in slightly positive & slightly negative ends
Water example of covalent
Hydrogen Bonds bonds that hold molecules together rather
than atoms
These bonds are weaker than ionic or covalent bonds
* like in water hydrogen bonds are the force that holds
water molecules together
Isotopes - atoms of the same element that have a different
number of neutrons
Isotopes - have an unstable nucleus that breaks apart giving
off energy in the form of radiation
-used to tell age of fossils, -preserve food, -treat cancer
Solutions --Water is known as
the universal solvent
Chemical properties of water are important b/c they allow it to
form solutions (aka. Uniform mixtures)
Solute --That which is being dissolved (sugar)
Solvent --That which does the dissolving (water)
Ionic Compounds --dissolve readily in water b/c water is polar
Polar covalent compounds --dissolve in water
Cohesion sticking together b/c of hydrogen bonding
Surface tension Like a water strider walking on water
Plants --have a xylem (straw-like tubes that carry water) where
the water is pulled up!
Expansion water expands when it freezes, which is
substances

-results in ice having a lower density than liquid water so the ice
floats
-ponds freeze on top so organisms are able to live underneath
-Problem for roads
Acids & Bases --Formed by ionic compounds in solution
+
Acids release Hydrogen ions (H ) in water (ex. HCl in
stomach acid)
Bases Produce hydroxide (OH ) ions in solution
(ex. NaOH in soap & egg whites)
Salts yield other ions (ex. NaCl and KCl)
When salt is dissolved in water; sodium & chlorine
disassociate or temporarily separate
pH --power of H+
-pH scale measures the concentration of Hydrogen ions
Scale 0-14 ,acid: 0 to < 7 ,bases: > 7 to 14
Blood - 7.4 (lethal if more acidic than 7 and more basic than
7.8)
Stomach acid -2
A change in pH --in your body results in halting some enzyme
functions
Acid rain --contains sulfuric acid and nitric acid
Acid rain pH < 5.6
Acid rain washes away vital minerals from soil, kills aquatic
organisms & strip nutrients from plants
The Compounds of Life (most contain carbon)
Carbohydrates - store energy & provide shape
(composed of C,H&O)
Starch - plants stored energy that is made of sugars
(monosaccharides, disaccharides & polysaccharides)
Carbon is important biological element because it can form four
bonds with other elements and long chains or rings
Polymer large molecule made up of many smaller units like
starch
Monomer unit that makes up polymer; glucose is the
monomer for starch
The Compounds of Life
Glycogen - animals stored energy made from sugars (same
saccharides)
Cellulose - simple sugars that make structural carbons in plants
GLUCOSE
Monomer of starch, glycogen, and cellulose
Lipids - long term energy storage; four types; not soluble in
water
Fats - provide insulation
Wax - repel water
Phospholipids - give structure to cell membranes
Steroids - cholesterol in cell membranes
Proteins - large, complex molecules composed of many smaller
molecules called amino acids (only 20 amino acids make
different combinations & proteins)
Amino acids are held together by peptide bonds to form proteins
Proteins - make enzymes that help control chemical reactions
(ex. Speed up digestion, releasing energy during cellular
respiration, building up proteins
Nucleic Acids - large, complex molecules that contain
hereditary or genetic info two types
monomer nucleotide (made up of nitrogen base, phosphate,
and sugar)
DNA - carries instruction that control activities of cell (blueprint)
RNA - make the proteins (builder)
Chemical Reaction creation of new substances by breaking
or forming chem. Bonds
Carbs broken for energy
All chemical reactions involve energy (absorbed or released)