CH 2 The Chemical Context of Life

The Chemical Context of Life
Chapter 2
Chemical Elements and
Compounds
• Atom- smallest unit of matter that retains the
properties of an element
• Elements – any substance that cannont be broken
down into any other substance
• (periodic table) ex: Hydrogen, Helium
• Compound – 2 or more different elements combined
in a fixed ratio ex: water (H2O)
• Molecule- 2 or more same atoms bonded together
(H2 or O2 or O3)
•
Compounds
• 96% of living matter: C, O, H, N
• Some elements are trace elements
(ex: iodine, nitrogen) – w/o can form
deficiencies
Goiter – iodine deficiency
•
Sugar cane crop – nitrogen
deficiency
•
Atomic Structure
•
Determining number of
protons, neutrons and
electrons
• atomic number -> 6
• C
atomic mass -> 12.01
• Atomic number = # of protons, # of electrons
• Atomic mass = # of protons + # of neutrons
• So carbon has 6 protons, 6 electrons and 6
neutrons
• Find the number of protons, neutrons and
electrons for manganese.
• 25
• Mn
• 55
• # of Protons = 25
• # of electrons = 25
• # of neutrons = 55 – 25 = 30
• Isotope = atoms of the same element that have
different number of neutrons
• 6 6 6
• C C C
• 12 13 14
• Some isotopes are radioactive = break down over
time
• Used to identify age of fossils, treat cancer, kill bacteria
in food
Chemical reactions
• Only electrons involved
• Further the distance electrons are from the
nucleus the greater their potential energy
• Potential energy = energy matter possesses as
a result of its location (stored energy)
• Kinetic energy = energy associated with
motion, (moving matter = work/motion to
other matter)
Energy levels
• The electrons of an atom vary in the amount
of energy they possess
• 1st level has lowest energy
• 2nd level has more energy
• 3rd level has more energy (outermost shell)-
valence electrons
• Levels are called electron shells
Na (sodium) atom
Specific # of Electrons can be
held within each shell
• 1st shell holds no more than 2 electrons
• 2nd and 3rd shell no more than 8
• Chemical behavior of an atom depends on
the # of electrons (valence electrons) in the
outermost shell (valence shell)
Na (sodium) atom
Behavior
• Atoms with the same # valence electrons
exhibit similar chemical behavior
• Ex: Li and Na have 1 valence electron and
are very reactive, atoms with a full valence
shell are inert/ not reactive (Nobel gases)
Chemical Bonding
• Unpaired electrons in outermost shell
• Due to electronegativity – tendency of an atom to
attract electrons towards itself and form negative
ions (anions)
• Increases across the periodic table (left to right)
• Decreases down the group (column)
Bonding
• Types of bonds:
• Covalent bonds – shared electrons by 2 atoms
(friends)
• Bonds of life
• Typically form between 2
nonmetals
2 Types of Covalent Bonds
• Nonpolar covalent bond = electrons are
shared equally due to balance in
electronegativity of electrons (O2)
• Polar covalent bond = (partial charge)
electrons are not shared equally due to one
atom having a higher electronegativity
thereby attracting electrons more (water)
• Ionic bonds = atom with greater
electronegativity steals electron from
another (bully/victim)
• Creates ions = a charged atom
• 2 types:
• Cations = (+) charged

• Anions = (-) charged
• Form salts
• Dissociates/dissolves easily in water
• Typically forms between metals and nonmetals
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_M9khs87xQ8&fbclid=IwAR2b9LjoOmo
aBTGSdjbS1d3TOvDgSMsFxTQfz0wiArv92_V_viPRC2U9GGc
(dogs doing chemistry)
Bond strength in organisms
• Strongest –covalent
• Weaker – ionic (dissociation/separate in
water)
• Hydrogen
• Van der Waals interactions
Chemical Bonds in Life
• Hydrogen bonds –weak bonds
• Occur between hydrogen and 2 other electronegative
atoms
• Ex: water molecules; water and ammonia in plants
• Van der Waals interactions = weak attractions
• Occur between closely placed molecules or parts of
molecules that are brought about by changes in charges
of atom
• Found in 3-D protein formation
• Gecko walking on a wall (numerous interactions
between hair tip on toe and wall’s surface)

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The Chemical Context of Life

• Cations = (+) charged

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