Science dealing with the composition and reactions of substances.
Example: H2O
Theory of the atom.
Chemistry Objectives
Conservation of Matter: Matter changes form but is neither created nor destroyed; it comes from somewhere and goes somewhere.
Elements: Things are made of elements.
Atom: The smallest part of an element.
Sub-atomic particles: An atom is made up of 3 sub-atomic particles.
Atomic number, atomic mass, and isotopes.
Elements in the human body: Understanding which elements and their symbols make up the human body and where they come from.
Valence Shell: Atoms want to have a full outermost shell of electrons, a full “valence shell”. The configuration is often (2:8:8).
Chemical Reactions and Bonds: Atoms without a full valence shell undergo chemical reactions, forming strong chemical bonds.
Strong Chemical Bonds: Understanding the 2 strong chemical bonds and how they differ.
Structure/Function: Shapes of atoms determine the shapes of molecules, which determine the shapes of macromolecules.
Importance of Carbon and Water: Carbon-carbon bonds and water-water interactions are crucial.
Polarity and Solubility: Polar molecules and salts dissolve in water, while non-polar molecules dissolve in fat. Understanding hydrophilic vs. hydrophobic molecules and why this occurs.
Water Characteristics: Including hydrogen bonding and pH (hydrogen, hydrogen, protons!).
The big 6; Carbon, Hydrogen, Nitrogen, Oxygen, Phosphorus, and Sulfur
Atom
Composed of 3 subatomic particles:
Bohr Atomic Model- 1913
Nucleus (Protons and Neutrons)
Orbital shells (electrons)
Helium Atom
Electrons
Protons
Neutrons
Characteristics of Subatomic Particles
Electrons:
Symbol: e-
Location: Orbitals
Charge: -
Mass: ~0
Function: Bonding
Neutrons:
Symbol: n
Location: Nucleus
Charge: 0
Mass: 1
Function: Nuclear stability
Protons:
Symbol: p
Location: Nucleus
Charge: +
Mass: 1
Function: Identity
The number of protons gives an element its unique characteristics.
Atomic Number and Mass
The number of protons is usually = number of neutrons = number of electrons
Ex. Carbon (atomic number is 6)
Atomic number = the number of protons in the nucleus of an atom
12C
6 protons
6 neutrons
6 electrons
atoms very much do not move like this
Periodic Table Information
Element name (e.g., Carbon)
Element symbol (e.g., C)
Atomic number: The number of protons in the element.
Atomic mass: The average mass of all isotopes of the element.
Atomic Mass
Atomic mass: The sum of the mass of all its subatomic particles (the relative weight of isotopes averaged).
Ex. Carbon 6 electrons + 6 neutrons + 6 protons 0 + 6 + 6 =? Why is carbon’s atomic mass not equal to 12?
Units of mass (AMU) (Daltons) !
Atomic mass of all forms of that element vs. of a single atom
Isotopes
Atoms having the same number of protons but differing numbers of neutrons.
Ex. Carbon has 3 isotopes (12C, 13C, 14C)
98.9% is “regular” carbon 12 (12C) -> 6 neutrons
1.1% is carbon 13 (13C) -> 7 neutrons
trace is carbon 14 (14C) -> 8 neutrons
14C is unstable “radioactive”
There are actually 15 carbon isotopes 9C – 22C
All are carbon! Why?
Isotopes and Climate Science
How does science know the increase in atmospheric CO2 is due to the burning of fossil fuels?
Isotope ratios
Volcanoes -> low 12C13C ratios
Volcanoes ~200 million tons CO2/yr.
Fossil fuels -> high 12C13C ratios
Fossil fuel ~25 billion tons CO2/yr.
Which is bigger? 200 million or 25 billion?
April 2025 summit Sundhnúkagígar, Iceland
CO2 Also Ash & SO2
Electrons and Reactivity
Electrons determine the reactivity of an element (chemical bonding).
“orbital shells” are in specific areas
What determines if a reaction happens?
See 2, 8, 8 rule
Notice e- often hang out as pairs
Electrons e-
Electron Orbital Shells
What do these e- orbital shells look like?
First orbital shell: One spherical orbital (2s)
Three dumbbell-shaped orbitals (2p)
Electron Shell Capacity
Max # e-
1st shell: 2
2nd shell: 8
3rd shell: 8
What happens if a shell is not full?
What is this element?
Note: e- in outer orbital shells have more energy than do inner shells.
Orbital shells “2,8,8” rule or octet rule
18p+ e-
2 8 8
Elements with Full Outer Shells
Noble gases have full outer shells.
These elements have full outer shells
"noble gases"
2
He
Using the Periodic Table
Periodic table (The important rows for our class)
Know the important chemical symbols
Recognize and be able to use the atomic number to tell:
Number of protons
Number of electrons and where they would be (e- shells)
Recognize and be able to use the atomic mass to tell:
Number of neutrons, and to figure Molecular mass of molecules.
2 8 8
Electron Configuration Examples
Hydrogen has one electron. Where is the one e-? How many more e- does it want to have?
Helium has two electrons. Where are the e-? How many more e- does it want to have?
Max # Hydrogen (H)
1st shell 2 1 Not full
2nd shell 8 -
3rd shell 8 -
Sodium Electron Configuration
Sodium has 11 protons thus it has 11 electrons Where are these electrons?
Na atomic # 11
Max # e- Sodium (Na)
1st Shell 2 2
2nd Shell 8 8
3rd Shell 8 1
How many more electrons does sodium “want”?
Valence Shell and Reactivity
If the outermost shell of electrons is not full, the atom is “reactive”. Valence shell
How many valence shell electrons does sodium have?
How many valence shell electrons does it want?
How does it get a full valence shell of electrons?
Strong Chemical Bonds
Strong chemical bonds in living organisms
Ionic Bonds
Covalent Bonds
It is all about the valence shell electrons
Ionic Bonds
Ionic bonds – form from opposite charge attractions. How form?
“salts”
These give up electrons
These take electrons
Salts
“Salt” What is salt?
How is salt different from sugar?
What do you need to know about salts?
CuSO4
Salts- molecules held together by ionic bonds
Example: NaCl (Table Salt)
Number of protons:
In sodium (Na)?
In chlorine (Cl)?
Number of electrons?
Ionization of sodium and of chlorine atoms
Formation of Ions
Na loses 1e- (10 e- and 11 protons+) (has one + charge)
Cl gains 1e- (18 e- and 17 protons +) (has one - charge)
Na+Cl−
How many e- does Na want?
How many e- does Cl want?
17p+ 17 e- 17p+ 18 e-
Before e- moved After e- “moved”
Electrons are fickle
11p+ 11e- 11p+ 10e-
11p+ 11p+
17p+ 17p+
Ions
Ion- an atom (or molecule) that has lost or gained one or more e-, giving the atom an electrical charge.
Ex. Sodium ion (1 + charge) Na+ (cation)
Chloride ion (1 - charge) {Cl}^-$ (anion)
Result- opposite charges attract
How many e- each have?
Ion vs. Salt
11p+ 10e- 17p+ 18e-
+ -
Ionic Bonds and Salts
Ionic bond- occurs between two oppositely charged ions
Salt- Any compound formed from ionic bonds.
Ion vs. Salt
NaCl
+
-
Salt Crystal Structure
{Cl}^-
{Na}^+
Salts form strong ionic bonds between oppositely charged ions forming crystals
How do salts dissolve in water?
How does water disrupt strong ionic bonds?
Key Points About Salts
“Salt” is not just NaCl
Salts are molecules held together by ionic bonds
Ionic bonds are formed when oppositely charged atoms (or molecules) attract one another.
Ions result from transfer of negatively charged electrons.
Ions are important in biological systems
Common Ions and Salts
Some common ions
{H}^+
{K}^+
{Cl}^-
{Na}^+
{Mg}^{++}
{OH}^-
NH_4 ^+
CO_3^{-2}
Common salts (NaCl, MgCl2,KCl,MgSO4,CaCO3,NaHCO3 etc.)
How can you recognize something is an ion?
{MgSO_4}
NaHCO_3
KCl
“Electrolytes”
NaCl, KH2PO4,Na3C6H5O7
Covalent Bonds
Strong bonds cont.
2. Covalent bonds - form when atoms share electron pairs.
strongest type of bond
Hydrogen also forms covalent bonds
In this class (H,C,N,O,P,S)
Covalent Bond Example: Hydrogen and Carbon
Substrates (reactants) -> Product
One atom of carbon can form 4 covalent bonds (one each to 4 hydrogen atoms)
This is a chemical reaction
Carbon + Hydrogen -> Methane
Methane Structure
What these do these lines mean?
How many valence e- does H have?
How many valence e- does C have?
Name of this molecule?
Where are carbon’s 8 valence electrons?
Note 3D shape:
Tetrahedral
Common name(s)
Chemical name
Non-polar
Note that the covalent bonds are equally surrounding the carbon. This means methane is non-polar!
e- e- e-e- e-e- e- e-
Molecular Mass
Molecular Mass
Atomic mass can be used to determine molecular mass.
What is the molecular mass of methane (CH_4)?
Sum of its components
Note atomic mass is not shown in the other periodic table I am using in my notes
Conservation of Mass
Can we turn lead into gold?
No…. Well…. No easily
"Immutability of elements'
Law of the conservation of mass (matter)
Matter can be rearranged but “matter cannot be created or destroyed”
Ex. When burning gasoline, octane (before and after)
octane + oxygen -> carbon dioxide + water
Note: no elements have changed!
Where do the chemical elements go?
Where does the energy in the octane go?
Where did the energy in octane come from?
How is this reaction reversed?
Where lead in PDX school drinking water coming from?
Arsenic found in drinking water at Victor Point Elementary School in Silverton
Organic Molecules
“Organic molecules” - contain carbon (and at least one hydrogen)
Is pure stream water, “organic”?
What is organic food?
Is organic food “better”?
Note: Emergent Properties
What do these lines represent?
Compounds
Compound
A pure substance formed when atoms of different elements form bonds.
The number of atoms of each element is written as a subscript.
Examples:
CO_2 carbon dioxide
H_2O water
CH_4 methane
C6H{12}O_6 glucose
NaCl table salt
Molecules
Molecule
One or more atoms joined by covalent bonds. (can be of the same or different element)
The number of molecules is written as a coefficient.
Examples:
CO_2 1 molecule of carbon dioxide
4CO_2 4 molecules of carbon dioxide
2C6H{12}O_6 2 molecules of glucose
6O_2 6 molecules of oxygen
Note: oxygen gas is not a compound
Compounds vs. Molecules
All compounds are molecules, but not all molecules are compounds
-Is H_2O (water) a compound or a molecule?
-Is O_2 (oxygen gas) a compound or a molecule?
Which of these is a chemical?
Covalent Bonds in Water
Example continued
covalent bonds in water H_2O
Bulk biological elements
Trace elements
Possibly essential
trace elements
Water Molecule
Example covalent bonds in a water molecule H_2O
How many e- does O want?
How many e- does H want?
Water Molecule Formation
O + 2H ® H_2O
Why are the H atoms at a weird angle in the water molecule?
Result: Unequal sharing of electrons
Oxygen very much wants e- (very electonegative)
Polarity of Water
Water is polar Result
Part of the water molecule (H side) has a slight positive charge (+)
Part of the water molecule (O side) has a slight negative charge (-)
Recall e- often hang out as pairs
Note shape: tetrahedral
What does that mean?
e- e- e- e-e- e- e- e-
Polar vs. Non-Polar Molecules
Polar molecules- molecules with one part that is slightly positive and another part that is slightly negative
ex. Water, ammonia, sugars, some amino acids, DNA,
Non-polar molecules- molecules with no charges
ex. Methane, fats, gasoline, etc.
Water's Shape & Hydrogen Bonding
(slightly -)
H
H
(slightly +) (slightly +)
result of being polar:
"The shape of water"
Space-filling
model of water
H-bonding (see below)
Hydrogen Bonding
Chemical bonds continued (weak chemical bonding)
3. Hydrogen bonding (H- bond)- formed when the positive end of one polar molecule, such as water, is attracted to the negative end of another polar molecule.
Result from slight opposite charge attraction
These are not really “bonds”
Do you understand this figure?
H-bonds
Examples of Hydrogen Bonding
3. Hydrogen bonding (weak chemical bonding)
Ex. H- bonds in H_2O
Ex. H- bonds in DNA
Ex. H- bonds in a sugar crystal and as the sugar dissolves into water
Hydrophilic vs. Hydrophobic
Things in our bodies/cells are either water soluble or fat soluble
Hydrophilic- Water soluble
Hydrophobic- Fat soluble (water insoluble)
Solubility
Solubility in our bodies and cells
Why don’t oil and water mix?
Based on this experiment, what do you hypothesize about the solubility of the red coloring?
Is the food color hydrophobic or hydrophilic?
Do aspirin dissolve like this?
So far:
Salts- That dissolve to form ions (ex. {Na}^+{H}^+,{K}^+,{Cl}^-,{Mg}^{++})
Polar things- (ex. water, DNA, sugars, some amino acids, etc.)