CHAPTER 2 CHEMICAL CONTEXT OF LIFE STUDY GUIDE
DISTINGUISH THE ATOMIC STUCUTRE OF AN ELEMENT
Protons: A positively charged subatomic particle that is found in the nucleus of an atom.
Protons help distinguish elements from one another since all elements have a specific
number of protons
Neutrons: A neutral charged subatomic particle that is also found within the nucleus.
Both protons and neutrons weigh a total of 1 amu
Atomic Number: The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom, it can also account for
the number of electrons an atom has
Atomic Mass: The total mass of an atom, which is equivalent to mass in grams of 1 mole
of an atom
HOW THE ATOMIC NUMBER AND MASS NUMBER OF AN ATOM CAN BE USED
TO DETERMINE THE NUMBER OF NEUTRONS
Neutrons can be found by subtracting the atomic number and atomic mass from each
other. The atomic number already accounts for both the protons and electrons. The
atomic mass is found by subtracting protons from neutrons. Subtracting from the mass
and the atomic number will leave you with a neutral number of atoms
HOW TWO ISOTOES OF AN ELEMENT CAN BE SIMILAR
An Isotope is an element that has one or more forms that have the same protons but
different number of neutrons. This results in each of the like elements to have different
masses.
Example: Carbon’s original element has an atomic mass of 12 (6 Protons, 6 Neutrons).
However, carbon also comes in another form with an atomic mass of 14 (6 protons and 7
neutrons). Both forms are the same element and have the same number of protons but
different number of neutrons that result in a different atomic mass
DISTINGUISHING BETWEEN COVALENT AND IONIC BONDS
Covalent Bonds: Sharing of valence electrons which occurs when two atoms share
electrons, so each have a full outer shell. These are the strongest types of bonds and can
be classified as polar or nonpolar
Ionic Bonds: The transfer of electrons where one atom transfers an electron to another
atom. These are medium strength bonds and can create ionic compounds that can be
anionic or catatonic
DISTINGUISHING BETWEEN ANION AND A CATION
Formed by ionic bonds
Cations: Positively charged ions that have more protons than electrons. This occurs when
an electron is taken away
Anion: Negatively charged ions that have more electrons than protons. This occurs when
an electron is gained
DISTINGUISHING BETWEEN NON-POLAR AND POLAR COVALENT BONDS
Non-Polar covalent bonds: Bonding electrons shared equally between two atoms which
results in no charges on atoms
Polar covalent Bonds: Bonding electrons shared unequally between two atoms which
results in particial charges on atoms.
DISTINGUISH THE ATOMIC STUCUTRE OF AN ELEMENT
Protons: A positively charged subatomic particle that is found in the nucleus of an atom.
Protons help distinguish elements from one another since all elements have a specific
number of protons
Neutrons: A neutral charged subatomic particle that is also found within the nucleus.
Both protons and neutrons weigh a total of 1 amu
Atomic Number: The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom, it can also account for
the number of electrons an atom has
Atomic Mass: The total mass of an atom, which is equivalent to mass in grams of 1 mole
of an atom
HOW THE ATOMIC NUMBER AND MASS NUMBER OF AN ATOM CAN BE USED
TO DETERMINE THE NUMBER OF NEUTRONS
Neutrons can be found by subtracting the atomic number and atomic mass from each
other. The atomic number already accounts for both the protons and electrons. The
atomic mass is found by subtracting protons from neutrons. Subtracting from the mass
and the atomic number will leave you with a neutral number of atoms
HOW TWO ISOTOES OF AN ELEMENT CAN BE SIMILAR
An Isotope is an element that has one or more forms that have the same protons but
different number of neutrons. This results in each of the like elements to have different
masses.
Example: Carbon’s original element has an atomic mass of 12 (6 Protons, 6 Neutrons).
However, carbon also comes in another form with an atomic mass of 14 (6 protons and 7
neutrons). Both forms are the same element and have the same number of protons but
different number of neutrons that result in a different atomic mass
DISTINGUISHING BETWEEN COVALENT AND IONIC BONDS
Covalent Bonds: Sharing of valence electrons which occurs when two atoms share
electrons, so each have a full outer shell. These are the strongest types of bonds and can
be classified as polar or nonpolar
Ionic Bonds: The transfer of electrons where one atom transfers an electron to another
atom. These are medium strength bonds and can create ionic compounds that can be
anionic or catatonic
DISTINGUISHING BETWEEN ANION AND A CATION
Formed by ionic bonds
Cations: Positively charged ions that have more protons than electrons. This occurs when
an electron is taken away
Anion: Negatively charged ions that have more electrons than protons. This occurs when
an electron is gained
DISTINGUISHING BETWEEN NON-POLAR AND POLAR COVALENT BONDS
Non-Polar covalent bonds: Bonding electrons shared equally between two atoms which
results in no charges on atoms
Polar covalent Bonds: Bonding electrons shared unequally between two atoms which
results in particial charges on atoms.
