Elements and Atoms

Question 1

What is matter?

Answer 1

It occupies space and has mass

Question 2

What is mass?

Answer 2

The amount of mass an object has

Question 3

What are chemical elements?

Answer 3

Building blocks of matter (all matter is composed of 1 or more of the 92 elements)

Question 4

What are elements?

Answer 4

• Pure substances that are unable to be broken down or destroyed
• from the environment
• each element has an atomic # (this represents the # of protons)
• the human body can’t make elements, it makes compounds from elements

Question 5

What are some essential elements?

Answer 5

• calcium
• potassium

Question 6

Tell me about the element calcium

Answer 6

• atomic #: 20
• digestive system breaks food down and calcium goes into the bloodstream
• ends up in the bones

Question 7

Tell me about the element potassium

Answer 7

• atomic #: 19
• usually occurs as an ion
• important for cells
• important for the production of action potential

Question 8

What are compounds?

Answer 8

• combining of elements through chemical bonds
• the same structure always makes the same compound

Question 9

What are some essential compounds?

Answer 9

• water
• glucose

Question 10

What are the 4 main elements of the human body?

Answer 10

• Oxygen 65%
• Carbon 18.5%
• Hydrogen 9.5%
• Nitrogen 3.2%
• this is 96% of organic compounds in the human body

Question 11

Why is oxygen important?

Answer 11

• oxygen is important in water molecules
• oxygen is important in the production of ATP

Question 12

Why is carbon important?

Answer 12

• carbon is the main component of many structures
• carbon forms the backbone for molecules

Question 13

What is hydrogen important?

Answer 13

• hydrogen is in all organ molecules and in water
• hydrogen contributes to acidity

Question 14

Why is nitrogen important?

Answer 14

• nitrogen is important for proteins, amino acids, and nucleic acids (DNA, RNA)