Biochemistry - Carbon & Atoms

Protons

Have a positive charge. Found in the nucleus

Neutrons

Have a neutral charge. Found in the nucleus

Electrons

Have a negative charge. Found in orbits outside the nucleus

Atomic number

# of protons in an atom

Atomic mass

# of protons + # of neutrons in the nucleus

# of electrons

# of protons in a neutral atom of an element

Octet Rule

all elements want 8 electrons in their outer orbital

# of bonds carbon likes to make

4 bonds

Covalent bonds

share electrons with each other

Ionic bonds

atoms donate or accepts electrons

Cohesion definition

water is attracted to itself

Adhesion definition

water is attracted to other surfaces

Surface tension definition

the surface of water is resistant to outside forces

Capillary action definition

the movement of water through a narrow tube or porous material

The Big 4 Elements

Oxygen, Carbon, Hydrogen, Nitrogen

Salts

combinations of Na, Mg, K, Ca, P, S, Cl

Trace elements

Fe, Cu, I, and Zn

Toxins

Ni, As, Cd, Hg, and Pb

Polar

part of the molecule is positively charged and another part is negatively charged

Cohesion example

water droplets

Adhesion example

water droplets sticking to a spider web

Surface tension example

water striders walking on water

Capillary action example

water moving up from the group through the roots of a plant