Miller and Levine Biology Chapter 2
The Chemistry of Life
Questions and Answers
What are the three subatomic particles that make up atoms? - ANSWER-Protons,
neutrons, and electrons.
Where are protons and neutrons located in an atom? - ANSWER-In the center of the
atom, called the nucleus.
What is the electrical charge of a proton? - ANSWER-Positive.
What is the electrical charge of an electron? - ANSWER-Negative.
What is an element? - ANSWER-A pure substance that consists entirely of one type
of atom.
What are isotopes? - ANSWER-Atoms of the same element that differ in the number
of neutrons they contain.
What is a chemical compound? - ANSWER-A substance formed by the chemical
combination of two or more elements in definite proportions.
What holds atoms together in a chemical bond? - ANSWER-Valence electrons
interacting between atoms.
How is an ionic bond formed? - ANSWER-By the transfer of one or more electrons
from one atom to another.
What is an ion? - ANSWER-An atom that has gained or lost electrons, acquiring a
net electric charge.
How is a covalent bond formed? - ANSWER-By electrons being shared between
atoms.
What is a molecule? - ANSWER-The smallest unit of most compounds that displays
all the properties of that compound.
Why is a water molecule considered polar? - ANSWER-There is an uneven
distribution of electrons between the oxygen and hydrogen atoms.
What is a hydrogen bond? - ANSWER-A weak attraction between a hydrogen atom
and another atom with a partial negative charge.
The Chemistry of Life
Questions and Answers
What are the three subatomic particles that make up atoms? - ANSWER-Protons,
neutrons, and electrons.
Where are protons and neutrons located in an atom? - ANSWER-In the center of the
atom, called the nucleus.
What is the electrical charge of a proton? - ANSWER-Positive.
What is the electrical charge of an electron? - ANSWER-Negative.
What is an element? - ANSWER-A pure substance that consists entirely of one type
of atom.
What are isotopes? - ANSWER-Atoms of the same element that differ in the number
of neutrons they contain.
What is a chemical compound? - ANSWER-A substance formed by the chemical
combination of two or more elements in definite proportions.
What holds atoms together in a chemical bond? - ANSWER-Valence electrons
interacting between atoms.
How is an ionic bond formed? - ANSWER-By the transfer of one or more electrons
from one atom to another.
What is an ion? - ANSWER-An atom that has gained or lost electrons, acquiring a
net electric charge.
How is a covalent bond formed? - ANSWER-By electrons being shared between
atoms.
What is a molecule? - ANSWER-The smallest unit of most compounds that displays
all the properties of that compound.
Why is a water molecule considered polar? - ANSWER-There is an uneven
distribution of electrons between the oxygen and hydrogen atoms.
What is a hydrogen bond? - ANSWER-A weak attraction between a hydrogen atom
and another atom with a partial negative charge.
