Chemistry of Life: Anatomy and Physiology Honors

Chemistry of Life:

Define Element

The simplest form of matter, and cannot be broken down to other substances.

What are humans made of?

Elements

What six elements make up the majority of the human body?

CHONPS: Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Sulfur

What is the significance of Oxygen?

Part of water, and is needed for cellular respiration

What is the significance of carbon?

It is the backbone of all organic molecules

What is the significance of hydrogen?

It is found in nearly all compounds in the body

What is the significance of Nitrogen?

It is a part of protein and nucleic acids

What is the significance of phosphorus?

In bones, teeth, nucleic acids and ATP

What is the significance of sulfur?

It is a part of some proteins

Define Trace Elements

A chemical element of a minute quantity, in a trace amount.

Define Atoms

The smallest components of elements, they are made of protons, neutrons and electrons

Protons

Has a positive charge and are in the nucleus.

Neutrons

Has no charge and is in the nucleus

Electrons

Has a negative charge and orbit the nucleus

What do protons determine?

They determine the elemental identity of the atom

What do neutrons determine?

They determine the mass of the atom

What do electrons determine?

They determine what chemical bonds the atom will have with other atoms

Electron shell

Used in chemistry. It shows electrons and how they interact during chemical bonding.

Space filling

Used in bio class. It shows the molecular shape and interactions between molecules. Draw as a cloud to depict electrons rapid movement

Neutral Atoms

Have an equal number of protons and electrons. The positive and negative charges cancel out.

Ions

An atom that loses or gains an electron, making it charged.

Cation

Losing an electron. Is positively charged.

Anion

Gaining an electron. Is negatively charged.

Electrolytes

An ion that is found in body cells or fluids.

Compounds

Single molecule made of two or more elements. Like water, and carbon dioxide

Mixtures

Compounds and elements are in the same place, but not chemically combined. Like urine and tears

Chemical bonding

A force of attraction between two atoms based on the sharing or transfer of electrons.

Ionic bond

An attraction between oppositely charged ions; formed when electrons are transferred

Covalent bond

Formed by two or more atoms sharing electrons

Electron shell

A way to draw a covalent bond.

The shared electrons are shown in a diagram

Structural

A way to draw a covalent bond.

The bonds are shown with lines

Space filling

A way to draw a covalent bond.

Electron clouds are merged together.

Single bond

A type of covalent bond. One pair of electrons are shared.

Double bond

A type of covalent bond. Two pairs of electrons are shared.

Triple bond

A type of covalent bond. Three pairs of electrons are shared.