Basic Chemistry Concepts
What are the three subatomic particles of an atom?
Protons, neutrons, and electrons.
What are the horizontal rows in the periodic table called?
Periods.
What type of bond forms when electrons are shared between two atoms?
Covalent bond.
What is an isotope?
Atoms of the same element with a different number of neutrons.
What is the basic unit of life?
The cell.
What are the three states of matter, and what distinguishes each one?
The three main states of matter are solid, liquid, and gas. Solids have a definite shape and volume, liquids have a definite volume but no fixed shape, and gases have neither a definite shape nor volume.
Which group of elements on the periodic table is known as the noble gases?
Group 8 or 18 (depends on the periodic table).
What is formed when an atom gives up an electron and another atom accepts it?
Ionic bond.
What is one use of radioactive isotopes in medicine?
Radioactive isotopes are used in medical imaging, such as detecting tumors or measuring brain activity.
What is an inherited trait that helps an organism survive and reproduce in its environment.
Adaptation.
What is the term for the outermost electrons of an atom, involved in bonding?
Valence electrons.
What does the acronym CHONPS stand for?
CHONPS stand for carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur.
What is formed when sodium (Na) bonds with chlorine (Cl)?
Sodium chloride (NaCl), an ionic compound.
What is the most common example of a radioactive isotope?
Carbon-14.
What is homeostasis, and why is it important for living organisms?
Homeostasis is the process by which living organisms maintain a stable internal environment despite changes in their external environment. It is crucial for survival and proper functioning.
What does the mass number of an atom represent?
The sum of protons and neutrons in the nucleus.
What is the name of the element in Period 2, Group 1 of the periodic table?
Lithium (Li).
What is the difference between a molecule and a compound?
A molecule is two or more atoms bonded together; a compound is a molecule made of different elements.
What is the term for the time it takes for half of a sample of a radioactive isotope to decay?
Half-life.
Explain how scientific names are written.
They are written in Latin, with the genus capitalized and the species lowercase, both italicized or underlined.