1.1 - The Fundamental Chemistry of Life

• • Matter is made up of atoms, which are tiny particles that are made up of protons, neutrons and electrons.
• The smallest unit of matter with the properties of an element is called an atom.
• An atom consists of three subatomic particles - proton (positive charge), electron (negative charge) and neutron (no charge).
• Isotopes are atoms of the same element with different numbers of neutrons.
• Radioisotopes are unstable atoms that emit radiation as they decay.
• Ionic Bonds: A bond between a metal and a non-metal.
• Covalent Bonds: Formed by the sharing of electrons between atoms.
• Covalent Bonds are non-metals that form covalent bonds with other non-metals
• Polar Covalent Bonds: A bond in which the electrons are shared unequally between two atoms.
• Polar Molecules: Molecules that have a difference in electronegativity between the atoms.
• Non-Polar Molecules: Molecules that have equal electronegativities.
• Hydrogen Bonding: The attraction between hydrogen and an atom with high electronegativity, such as oxygen or nitrogen.
• Ionic Bonds: Formed when one atom loses its outermost electron to another atom, resulting in positively charged (cation) and negatively charged (anion).
• Dipole-Dipole forces are the forces between polar molecules.
• Van der Waals forces are weak intermolecular forces that occur between molecules with similar molecular shapes
• The 4 main biological reactions are dehydration synthesis, hydrolysis, neutralization and redox.
• Dehydration Synthesis: A reaction in which a molecule is formed from two molecules by the removal of a water molecule
• Hydrolysis Reaction: A reaction in which a water molecule breaks a larger molecule into two smaller molecules.
• Neutralization Reaction: A reaction in which a base and an acid make a salt and water.
• Redox Reactions: A reaction in which electrons are transferred between two or more substances.
• Reduction: The gain of electrons by a substance, resulting in a reduction in the number of protons.
• Oxidation: The loss of electrons, which is accompanied by the gain of oxygen.
• Electronegativity: the degree to which an element tends to gain electrons and form negative ions in chemical reactions