Introduction to Basic Chemistry

I. Building Blocks of Matter:

• MATTER is made up of the smallest BASIC particle called an ATOM

– (matter is anything that has mass…pretty much everything around you)

• Atoms have 2 main parts:

• NUCLEUS: central region that contains protons & neutrons

• ENERGY LEVEL or ELECTRON CLOUD: area outside the nucleus that contains the electrons

• Made up of 3 kinds of subatomic particles

• PROTONS: positive charge

• NEUTRONS: neutral (no charge)

• ELETRONS: negative charge

II. Properties of Atoms

1. Atoms are electrically NEUTRAL• Number of ELECTRONS is equal to the

number of PROTONS

2. In nature, atoms will BOND to other atoms to become stable

• ELECTRONS are part of why atoms bond together

A. There are 2 types of electrons

• CORE and VALENCE electrons:

***Valence Electrons: OUTSIDE electrons that are involved in bonding.

3. BONDING: an attraction within atoms to form a chemical compound

• All atoms are electrically neutral but are UNSTABLE until they form an attraction with another atom

• The outermost energy level may SHARE, LOSE, or GAIN electrons to form a BOND and become stable

Two types of bonds found within atoms:

1. Covalent: Atoms share electrons (can be single, double, or triple)

Two types of bonds found within atoms:

2. Ionic: When one or more electrons is lost from one atom and transferred to another