Chemistry Fundamentals: Elements, Bonds, and Reactions 🧪

Introduction

• Discussion on Module 1: Chemistry part
• Review of fundamental concepts about matter, chemical elements, atomic structures, chemical bonds, and reactions

The Basics of Matter

• Definition: Matter is anything that takes up space
• States of Matter: Solid, liquid, gas
  • Examples:
    • Solid: Wax in a candle
    • Liquid: Water in a bottle
    • Gas: Gas filling up a room

Elements and Atoms

• Element: Matter composed of a single type of atom
• Examples of Elements (Periodic Table):
  • Carbon (C)
  • Sodium (Na)
  • Iron (Fe)
  • Potassium (K)
  • Calcium (Ca)
  • Oxygen (O)
• Atomic Structure:
  • Nucleus: Contains protons (positive charge) and neutrons (neutral charge)
  • Electrons: Negative charge, found in orbitals or shells around the nucleus

Chemical Behavior and Bonds

• Valence Electrons: Electrons in the outermost shell, determine chemical behavior
• Molecules: Formed when atoms bond together
  • Types of Chemical Bonds:
    • Covalent Bonds: Strong, involve sharing electrons
    • Ionic Bonds: Middle strength, involve attraction of charged ions (e.g., NaCl)
    • Hydrogen Bonds: Weak ionic bonds, easy to break

Properties of Water

• Water's Bond Type: Polar covalent bond
• Properties:
  • Solvency
  • Cohesion and adhesion
  • Chemical reactivity
  • Thermal stability
• Examples:
  • Hydrophilic substances (e.g., tea)
  • Hydrophobic substances (e.g., oil)

Solutions and pH Scale

• Solution: Solute dissolved in solvent
• pH Scale: Measures acidity or basicity
  • Ranges:
    • Neutral: 7
    • Acidic: 0-6
    • Basic: 8-14
• Examples:
  • Acidic: Hydrochloric acid (0), gastric juice (2), lemon juice, coffee
  • Basic: Bleach, ammonia, sodium hydroxide

Chemical Reactions

• Types:
  • Decomposition: Breaking down (e.g., AB -> A + B)
  • Synthesis: Building up (e.g., A + B -> AB)
  • Exchange: Swapping elements (e.g., AB + CD -> AC + BD)
• Reversible Reactions: Can go in either direction, aim to maintain equilibrium

Organic Matter

• Definition: Biological origin, involves carbon and hydrogen
• Macromolecules:
  • Carbohydrates
  • Proteins
  • Lipids
  • Nucleic Acids

Monomers and Polymers

• Monomers: Single units
• Polymers: Multiple repeating units
• Processes:
  • Dehydration synthesis: Forms bonds by removing water
  • Hydrolysis: Breaks bonds by adding water

Specific Macromolecules

• Carbohydrates:
  • Hydrophilic, energy providers
  • Examples: Glucose, lactose, sucrose
• Lipids:
  • Hydrophobic, long-term energy storage
  • Examples: Triglycerides, phospholipids, steroids
• Proteins:
  • Diverse functions: Structure, hormones, antibodies, enzymes
  • Building blocks: Amino acids
  • Unique structures: Primary, secondary, tertiary
• Nucleic Acids:
  • DNA and RNA
  • Carry and transmit genetic information
  • Processes: Transcription (DNA to RNA), Translation (RNA to proteins)

ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate)

• Role: Energy currency of the cell
• Structure: Three phosphates, can be broken to release energy (ATP -> ADP + Pi)

Enzymes

• Function: Catalysts, speed up reactions
• Mechanism:
  • Substrate binds to enzyme's active site
  • Enzyme breaks down substrate into products
  • Enzymes recognizable by the suffix '-ase' (e.g., amylase)