MF009 1A Atoms and Molecules - The Chemical Basis of Life L2

James L,
Atoms and Molecules:

General Biology I (MF009) The Chemical Basis of
Foundation in Science
Powerpoint Templates Life Page 1
Learning Objectives
To define matter
To explain the different states, properties and

classification of matter
To understand the concept of chemical bonds
To distinguish among covalent bonds, ionic bonds,

hydrogen bonds, and van der Waals interactions
Powerpoint Templates
Page 2
Chemistry and Life
All organisms share fundamental similarities in their
chemical composition and basic metabolic
processes
The structure of atoms determines the way they form

chemical bonds to produce complex compounds
Molecular biology
Molecular biology is the study of biology at a
molecular level.
Page 3
BASIC CHEMISTRY OF A CELL
The living cell is a symphony of thousands of chemical
reactions all miraculously timed and coordinated to perform all
the functions necessary for life.
Biology includes the study of molecular and atomic nature of

life and living systems - some basic understandings in
chemistry is required in order to fully understand important
ideas in biology.
Page 4
BASIC CHEMISTRY OF A CELL
All the structures of the body are composed of chemicals,
and all the functions of the body result from the
interactions of these chemicals with one another.
The generation of nerve impulses and

the physiologic processes of digestion,
muscle contraction, and metabolism
can be described in chemical terms.
Page 5
Matter
Matter
Anything that has mass and takes up space
All organisms and everything around them are made of
matter.
All matter is composed of atoms & elements.
Understanding the structure of atoms is critical to
understanding the nature of biological molecules.
Why do we need to classify matter?
not all matter is the same
different types of matter must be treated
differently
Page 6
ELEMENTS
ELEMENTS
Substances that cant be broken down into simpler substances by
ordinary chemical reactions
Each element has a chemical symbol (Example: C for carbon)
Four elements (oxygen, carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen)

make up more than 96% of the mass of most organisms
Calcium, phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium, are present in

smaller quantities
Trace element Dietary

Iodine and copper are trace elements element that is needed in
minute amount.
Powerpoint Templates - Crucial for proper growth &
development Page 7
Human : What are we made of?
Chemical composition of the human body by weight

Page 8
Atoms
Smallest unit of an element that retains that elements
chemical properties
Made up of tiny subatomic particles of matter
All matter is composed of atoms.
Understanding the structure of atoms is critical to

understand the nature of biological molecules.
Page 9
Subatomic Particles
There are three basic types of subatomic particles:
An electron carries a unit of negative electric charge
A proton carries a unit of positive charge
A neutron is an uncharged particle
Protons and neutrons are compose in the atomic

nucleus
Electrons move rapidly around the atomic nucleus
In an electrically neutral atom, the number of
electrons equals the number of protons
Page 10
Atomic Structure
Every different atom has a characteristic number of protons in the
nucleus.
Every element has a fixed number of protons in the atomic nucleus

(atomic number), which determines an atoms identity and defines
the element.
Ions are charged atoms.
cations have more protons than electrons and are
positively charged
anions have more electrons than protons and are
negatively charged
The periodic table is a chart of the elements

arranged in order by atomic number and chemical
behavior
Page 11
All of the Elements are arranged on a chart known
as the Periodic Table
Electron-shell diagramsPowerpoint
of the firstTemplates
18 elements in the periodic table.
Page 12
Atomic number & Mass number
Atomic number
Number of protons in the nucleus of an atom
Equals with the number of electrons in the atom
Each element has a unique atomic number
Mass number
The number of protons plus(+) number of neutrons
in one atom
expressed in atomic mass unit (amu) or
daltons
Electrons do not contribute to the weight of
an atom
13 Page 13
Isotopes
Most elements consist of a mixture of atoms with different
numbers of neutrons and different masses
Isotopes
Atoms of the same element (having the same number of
protons and electrons) with varying numbers of neutrons
Page 14
Radioisotope
Some isotopes are unstable and tend to break down (decay)
to a more stable isotope (usually a different element)
Radioisotope
Unstable isotope that emits radiation as it decays. Radioactive
decay can be detected by autoradiography, on photographic
film
Example: Radioisotopes such as 3H (tritium), 14C, and 32P can
replace normal molecules and are used as tracers in research
In medicine, radioisotopes are used for both diagnosis

(such as thyroid function or blood flow) and treatment
(such as cancer)
Page 15
Compounds and Molecules
Two or more atoms may combine chemically
A chemical compound consists of atoms of two or more different

elements combined in a fixed ratio
Two or more atoms joined very strongly form a stable molecule
Example: H20 (water) is a molecular compound
Page 16
Inorganic and Organic Compounds
Inorganic compounds Organic compounds
Small, simple substances Generally large, complex carbon-

containing compounds
Biologically important groups
include water, simple acids and Typically, two or more carbon
bases, and simple salts atoms are bonded to each other
to form the backbone, or
skeleton, of the molecule
Page 17
Chemical Bonds
Atoms can be held together by chemical bonds
Valence electrons dictate how many bonds an atom can

form
Bond energy
Energy necessary to break a chemical bond
Two types of strong chemical bonds: covalent and ionic
Page 18
Covalent Bonds
Covalent bonds involve sharing electrons between atoms in a way
that fills each atoms valence shell
A molecule consists of atoms joined by covalent bonds

Example: hydrogen gas (H2)
Atoms linked by covalent bonds form a covalent compound

Carbon has 4 electrons in its valence shell, all of which are
available for covalent bonding (e.g. methane, CH4)
Page 19
Single, Double, and Triple Covalent Bonds
When one pair of electrons is shared between two atoms, the

covalent bond is called a single covalent bond
A double covalent bond is formed when two pairs of electrons

are shared (represented by two parallel solid lines)
A triple covalent bond is formed when three pairs of electrons

are shared (represented by three parallel solid lines)
Page 20
Covalent Bonds
Powerpoint Templates 21
Page 21
Covalent Bonds
Covalent bonds form when atoms share 2 or more
valence electrons.
Covalent bond strength depends on the number of

electron pairs shared by the atoms.
single double triple

bond < bond < bond
Page 22
Bonds found in biologically important
molecules
Atom Symbol Covalent Bonds

Hydrogen H 1
Oxygen O 2
Carbon C 4
Nitrogen N 3
Phosphorus P 5
Sulfur S 2
Page 23
Polar and Nonpolar Covalent Bonds
Electronegativity
A measure of an atoms attraction for shared electrons in
chemical bonds (e.g. oxygen has high electronegativity)
Nonpolar covalent bond

When covalently bonded atoms have similar electronegativities,
electrons are shared equally
Polar covalent bond

Covalent bond between atoms that differ in
electronegativity; electrons are pulled closer to the
nucleus of the atom with greater electron affinity
Page 24
Polar Molecules
A polar covalent bond has two dissimilar ends (poles), one
with a partial positive charge and the other partially negative
A polar molecule has one end with a partial positive charge

and another end with a partial negative charge
Example: Water has a partial positive charge at the hydrogen

end and a partial negative charge at the oxygen end, where
shared electrons are more likely to be
Page 25
Ionic Bonds
An ionic bond is formed by attraction between the
positive charge of a cation and the negative charge of an
anion
An ionic compound is a substance consisting of anions

and cations bonded by their opposite charges
Example: Sodium chloride (NaCl), an ionic compound

When sodium reacts with chlorine, sodiums single valence
electron is transferred completely to chlorine
Sodium becomes a cation (Na+); chlorine becomes an anion
(Cl)
Page 26
Ionic Bonds
Ionic bonds are formed by the attraction of oppositely
charged ions.
Page 27
Ionic Compounds in Solution
In the absence of water, ionic bonds are very strong

Example: Electrical attraction in ionic bonds holds Na+ and Cl
together to form NaCl (sodium chloride, table salt)
When placed in water, ionic compounds (such as sodium

chloride) tend to dissociate into individual ions :
NaCl (in H2O) Na+ + Cl
Page 28
Water as a Solvent
Water is an excellent solvent, capable of dissolving
many substances (solutes)
Because of their polarity, water molecules easily dissolve

polar or ionic substances
In solution, each cation or anion is surrounded by

oppositely charged ends of the water molecules
(hydration)
Page 29
Hydrogen Bonds
Hydrogen bonds are relatively weak bonds (easily formed and
broken) that are very important in living organisms
When hydrogen combines with a relatively electronegative atom,

it acquires a partial positive charge
Hydrogen bonds form between an atom with a partial negative

charge and a hydrogen atom that is covalently bonded to oxygen
, nitrogen, or fluorine
Water molecules interact with one another extensively

through hydrogen bond formation
Page 30
Hydrogen Bonds
Page 31
Van der Waals interactions
Adjacent molecules may interact in transient regions of weak positive
and negative charge. Van der Waals forces are electrostatic in nature.
The resulting attractive forces (van der Waals interactions) operate

over very short distances and are weaker and less specific than other
types of interactions
If the atoms are far apart (a few atomic radius away) from each other,
the van der Waals force becomes insignificant.
They are important when they occur in large numbers and

when molecular shapes permit close contact between
atoms
Page 32
Chemical Bonds
Chemical reactions involve the formation or breaking of chemical bonds.
A chemical reaction occurs is influenced by:

- temperature
- concentration of reactants and products
- availability of a catalyst
Chemical reactions are written with the reactants first, followed by

the products.
6H2O + 6CO2 C6H12O6 + 6O2

reactants products
Chemical reactions are often reversible.

C6H12O6 + 6O2 6H2O + 6CO2
Page 33

MF009 1A Atoms and Molecules - The Chemical Basis of Life L2

Încărcat de

Informații document

Drepturi de autor

Formate disponibile

Partajați acest document

Partajați sau inserați document

Opțiuni de partajare

Vi se pare util acest document?

Este necorespunzător acest conținut?

Drepturi de autor:

Formate disponibile

MF009 1A Atoms and Molecules - The Chemical Basis of Life L2

Încărcat de

Drepturi de autor:

Formate disponibile

James L,

Atoms and Molecules:

To explain the different states, properties and

To understand the concept of chemical bonds

To distinguish among covalent bonds, ionic bonds,

The structure of atoms determines the way they form

Biology includes the study of molecular and atomic nature of

The generation of nerve impulses and

Each element has a chemical symbol (Example: C for carbon)

Four elements (oxygen, carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen)

Calcium, phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium, are present in

Trace element Dietary

Chemical composition of the human body by weight

Made up of tiny subatomic particles of matter

All matter is composed of atoms.

Understanding the structure of atoms is critical to

Protons and neutrons are compose in the atomic

Every element has a fixed number of protons in the atomic nucleus

The periodic table is a chart of the elements

In medicine, radioisotopes are used for both diagnosis

A chemical compound consists of atoms of two or more different

Two or more atoms joined very strongly form a stable molecule

Example: H20 (water) is a molecular compound

Inorganic compounds Organic compounds

Small, simple substances Generally large, complex carbon-

Valence electrons dictate how many bonds an atom can

Two types of strong chemical bonds: covalent and ionic

A molecule consists of atoms joined by covalent bonds

Atoms linked by covalent bonds form a covalent compound

When one pair of electrons is shared between two atoms, the

A double covalent bond is formed when two pairs of electrons

A triple covalent bond is formed when three pairs of electrons

Covalent bond strength depends on the number of

single double triple

Atom Symbol Covalent Bonds

Nonpolar covalent bond

Polar covalent bond

A polar molecule has one end with a partial positive charge

Example: Water has a partial positive charge at the hydrogen

An ionic compound is a substance consisting of anions

Example: Sodium chloride (NaCl), an ionic compound

In the absence of water, ionic bonds are very strong

When placed in water, ionic compounds (such as sodium

NaCl (in H2O) Na+ + Cl

Because of their polarity, water molecules easily dissolve

In solution, each cation or anion is surrounded by

When hydrogen combines with a relatively electronegative atom,

Hydrogen bonds form between an atom with a partial negative

Water molecules interact with one another extensively

The resulting attractive forces (van der Waals interactions) operate

They are important when they occur in large numbers and

A chemical reaction occurs is influenced by:

Chemical reactions are written with the reactants first, followed by

6H2O + 6CO2 C6H12O6 + 6O2

Chemical reactions are often reversible.

S-ar putea să vă placă și