Now we're getting to the heart and soul of the way the Universe works. You know that a generic atom has some protons and neutrons in the nucleus and some electrons zipping around in orbitals. When those pieces start combining in specific numbers, you can build atoms with recognizable traits. If you have eight protons, neutrons and electrons, you will have an oxygen (O) atom. If you have seven protons, neutrons, and electrons, you will have a nitrogen (N) atom. The atoms for each element are unique, even though they are all made of similar subatomic parts.
Remember that 'atom' is the general term. Everything is made of atoms. The term 'element' is used to describe atoms with specific characteristics. There are almost 120 known elements. For example, you are made up of billions of billions of atoms but you probably won't find more than 40 elements (types of atoms) in your body. Chemists have learned that over 95% of your body is made up of hydrogen (H), carbon (C), nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus (P), and calcium (Ca).
The Same Everywhere
Iron atoms on the Earth and Mars are the same.
As far as we know, there are a limited number of basic elements. Up to this point in time, we have discovered or created about 120. Scientists just confirmed the creation of element 117 in 2014. While there are more elements to discover, the basic elements remain the same. Iron (Fe) atoms found on Earth are identical to iron atoms found on meteorites. The iron atoms in the red soil of Mars are also the same.
You can explore and understand the Universe. You will never stop discovering new reactions and compounds, but the elements will be the same.
The List of Elements
The rules for the first eighteen elements are very straightforward:
(1) Electrons fit nicely into three orbitals. Remember that the orbitals are the places you will generally find the electrons as they spin around the nucleus.
(2) These eighteen elements make up most of the matter in the Universe.
(3) It's a lot easier to remember facts about 18 elements than over 100 elements.
As we move past the first eighteen elements, you can start to learn about transition elements in the fourth period (row) of the periodic table. The transition metals have electron configurations that are a little different from the first eighteen. Make sure you understand the basics of electron orbitals before you move on to this row.
Chemical Reactions
Reactions involve the chemical change of atoms and molecules.
Let's start with the idea of a chemical reaction. Reactions occur when two or more molecules interact and the molecules change. Bonds between atoms are broken and created to form new molecules. That's it. What molecules are they? How do they interact? What happens? The possibilities are infinite.
When you are trying to understand chemical reactions, imagine that you are working with the atoms. Imagine the building blocks are right in front of you on the table. Sometimes we use our chemistry toys to help us visualize the movement of the atoms. We plug and unplug the little connectors that represent chemical bonds. There are a few key points you should know about chemical reactions:
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1. A chemical change must occur. You start with one molecule and turn it into another. Chemical bonds are made or broken in order to create a new molecule. One example of a chemical reaction is the rusting of a steel garbage can. That rusting happens because the iron (Fe) in the metal combines with oxygen (O2) in the atmosphere. Chemical bonds are created and destroyed to finally make iron oxide (Fe2O3).
Hydrogen and oxygen molecules combine to form water in a synthesis reaction. When a refrigerator or air conditioner cools the air, there is no reaction in the air molecules. The change in temperature is a physical change. When you melt an ice cube, it is a physical change. When you put bleach in the washing machine to clean your clothes, a chemical change breaks up the molecules in your stains.
2. A reaction could include atoms, ions, compounds, or molecules of a single element. You need to remember that a chemical reaction can happen with anything, just as long as a chemical change occurs. If you put pure hydrogen gas (H2) and pure oxygen gas in a room, they might be involved in a reaction to form water (H2O). However, it will be in very very small amounts. If you were to add a spark, those gases would be involved in a violent chemical reaction that would result in a huge explosion (exothermic). Another chemical reaction might include silver ions (Ag+). If you mix a solution with silver ions with a solution that has chloride (Cl-) ions, silver chloride (AgCl) precipitate will form and drop out of solution.
3. Single reactions often happen as part of a larger series of reactions. When a plant makes sugars, there might be as many as a dozen chemical reactions to get through the Calvin cycle and eventually create (synthesize) glucose (C6H12O6) molecules. The rusting example we used earlier only showed you the original reactants and final products of the chemical reaction. There were several intermediate reactions where chemical bonds were created and destroyed. The silver chloride example only focused on the ions. In reality, the two solutions were created when two salts dissociated (split into ions) in water.
