Atoms, Molecules, and Bonds
IDS ACC・16 minutes read
Atoms are the basic units of matter, composed of protons, neutrons, and electrons, with the periodic table organizing all known elements. Isotopes are atoms of the same element with different neutron numbers, used in areas like carbon dating and radiation therapy.
Insights
- Atoms are the building blocks of matter, composed of protons, neutrons, and electrons, with each element uniquely identified by its atomic number and mass.
- Chemical bonds, whether ionic or covalent, are crucial for forming molecules, with covalent bonds further classified into nonpolar and polar based on electron sharing and electronegativity differences, impacting the overall properties of substances.
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Recent questions
What are atoms made of?
Atoms are composed of protons, neutrons, and electrons.
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Summary
00:00
Atoms, Elements, and Bonds: A Brief Overview
- Matter is composed of atoms, each being a single unit of an element that cannot be further broken down.
- The periodic table arranges all known elements, each represented by a single or two-letter abbreviation.
- Atoms consist of protons, neutrons, and electrons, with protons having a positive charge, neutrons being uncharged, and electrons having a negative charge.
- Changing the number of protons affects an atom's identity and charge, while altering electrons affects the charge but not the identity significantly.
- Isotopes are atoms of the same element with different neutron numbers, with unstable isotopes releasing energy as radioactivity.
- Radioactive isotopes like carbon-14 are used in carbon dating and radiation therapy to treat cancers.
- The atomic number represents the number of protons and electrons in an atom, while the atomic mass is the sum of protons and neutrons.
- Valence electrons help form chemical bonds, with atoms forming bonds to achieve a full valence shell.
- Ionic bonds form when one atom donates an electron to another, creating oppositely charged ions that attract each other.
- Covalent bonds involve atoms sharing unpaired valence electrons, with molecules like hydrogen gas held together by single covalent bonds.
20:27
Covalent Bonds: Equal vs. Unequal Sharing
- Nonpolar covalent bonds involve a complete equal sharing of electrons between atoms of the same element, like hydrogen or oxygen gas, while polar covalent bonds occur when one atom has a higher electronegativity, as seen in the bond between hydrogen and oxygen in a water molecule (H2O). This results in slight positive and negative charges on the atoms, making the bond polar.
