Foundations in Chemistry for Health Sciences - CHEM 1046 Flashcards

A set of Q&A flashcards covering core concepts from the CHEM 1046 Foundations in Chemistry for Health Sciences lecture notes.

Science is a systematic approach, using what two elements in addition to the approach itself?

Experimentation and observation.

Step One of the Scientific Method

Propose a hypothesis — an educated guess about how something works or why something is the way it is.

Step Two of the Scientific Method

Perform an experiment and/or make observations.

Step Three of the Scientific Method

Draw a conclusion; if the hypothesis is not supported, revise; if it is supported, keep testing it (peer review/reproducibility) and share with others in the field.

In an experiment, the ___ variable is changed and the ___ variable is measured.

independent; dependent.

Theory (in science)

A well-supported explanation of an aspect of the natural world that can incorporate laws, hypotheses, and facts.

Law (in science)

A statement of a measurable relationship, usually expressed in mathematical form.

Reliability in experiments

Consistency or repeatability of measurements; a reliable experiment should be reproducible.

Validity in experiments

The extent to which a test measures what it claims to measure; external validity concerns generalizing findings (e.g., animal models to humans).

Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)

A randomized controlled trial; the 'gold standard' for data and how drugs are tested; also known as a clinical trial.

Double-blind study in RCTs

Neither the experimenter nor the subject knows which group is in the control vs. experimental group.

Experimental group vs. Control group

Experimental group receives the active treatment; Control group receives a placebo.

Placebo

A tablet or substance that looks like a drug but does not contain the active compound.

Why learn this in nursing

Nurses rely on best-practice guidelines derived from peer-reviewed research; science provides a broad, credible language for healthcare communication.

What are the physical sciences?

The study of physics and chemistry of the natural world; foundational concepts include laws and theories.

What is chemistry?

The study of matter: atomic composition, properties of molecules, elements and their reactions, and energy changes.

Matter definition

Anything that has mass and occupies space.

Elements definition

A substance that cannot be broken down into simpler substances by ordinary chemical means.

Levels at which elements can be studied

Macroscopic (visible to the naked eye), microscopic (seen with a microscope), and particulate (too small to visualize; represented by symbols).

Mass and its units

Mass is the quantity of matter; measured in grams (g) or kilograms (kg).

Volume and its units

Volume is the amount of space occupied; measured in liters (L) or milliliters (mL).

Weight vs. Mass

Weight depends on gravity; mass does not.

Why weight and mass matter for nursing

Understanding how gravity affects care and patient handling; mass is a constant measure, weight changes with gravity.

Density

Mass per unit volume (density = mass/volume).

Atom

The smallest unit of an element.

Atomic structure components

Protons (positive, in the nucleus), neutrons (neutral, in the nucleus), electrons (negative, orbiting the nucleus).

Thomson's model (plum pudding)

Early model where the atom was a solid positively charged sphere with electrons embedded in it.

Rutherford’s contribution

Disproved the plum pudding model; discovered the nucleus and that atoms are mostly empty space with a dense center.

Nucleus contents

Protons (positive) and neutrons (neutral) reside in the nucleus.

Electron location

Electrons orbit the nucleus in regions of space around it.

Atomic Structure Summary

The atom is made of protons and neutrons in the nucleus and electrons in orbit around the nucleus; nucleus is positively charged and most of the atom is empty space.

States of matter (three primary)

Solid, liquid, gas (plasma is sometimes mentioned as a fourth state). Plasma is not usually a concern for everyday nursing contexts.

Phase changes by temperature

Matter changes state (solid ↔ liquid ↔ gas) with heating or cooling; energy is involved in the process.

Solid characteristics

Definite shape and definite volume; particles vibrate in fixed positions.

Liquid characteristics

Indefinite shape (takes container) but definite volume; particles flow past one another.

Gas characteristics

Indefinite shape and indefinite volume; particles are far apart and move rapidly.

Density clarification

Density is mass per unit volume; mass and volume determine density.

What are physical properties?

Properties that can be measured for a substance on its own (e.g., solubility, colour, odour, texture, density, electrical conductivity).

What are physical changes?

Changes in which the form of a substance changes but the chemical composition remains the same.

What are chemical properties and changes?

Chemical properties describe how substances react with others; chemical changes create new substances with different properties.

Examples of physical vs chemical changes (physical)

Making ice cubes; melting snow.

Examples of physical vs chemical changes (chemical)

Baking bread; burning natural gas; rusting iron; tarnish on silver (tarnish is chemical).

Elements vs. Compounds

Elements cannot be broken down by ordinary chemical means; compounds are two or more elements joined in fixed proportions.

Homogeneous vs. Heterogeneous

Homogeneous mixtures have uniform composition throughout; heterogeneous mixtures have non-uniform composition.

Liquid mixtures: solvent vs. solute

Solvent is the liquid that holds the other substance in solution; solute is the substance dissolved.