Chemistry Review for AP Environmental Science

Basics You Should Know…

 

I. Fundamental Definitions:

    A. Matter: Solids, liquids, gases.

    B. Elements: building blocks of matter that make up every material substance

    C. Compounds: a substance made up of two or more elements held together by forces called bonds.

    D. Atom: smallest unit of matter that is unique to an element. Made up of protons, neutrons, and electrons. Protons are positive, neutrons are neutral, and electrons have a negative charge.

    E.  Nucleus: The center of an atom: composed of protons and neutrons.

    F.  Ions: Electrically charged atoms Ex. I-  or K+. Caused by losing or gaining electrons.

   G. Atomic Number: The number of protons one element has. Ex: Nitrogen’s atomic number is 7, it has 7 protons.

 

II. Atoms to Know:

A.     Carbon, C: Atomic Number: 6

B.     Nitrogen, N: Atomic Number 7

C.     Oxygen, O: Atomic Number 8

D.    Hydrogen, H: Atomic Number 1

E.     Sodium, Na: Atomic Number 11

 

III. Compounds to Know

   A. Organic Compounds: Compounds containing Carbon

       a. Hydrocarbons: compounds that contain hydrogen and carbon. Ex’s: CH₄ = Methane

       b. Chlorinated Hydrocarbons: compounds that contain hydrogen, carbon, and chlorine. Ex’s: DDT = C₁₄H₉C_l5 or PCB’s = C₁₂H₅C _l5

       c. Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC’s): Contain chlorine, fluorine, and carbon. CCl₂F₂.

       d. Carbohydrates: compounds that contain carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. Ex: glucose: C₆H₁₂O₆.

        e. Nucleic Acids: DNA or RNA…contain C, H, O, N, and P..genetic info. Makes up chromosomes.

        f. Other: Carbon dioxide, CO₂.

 

   B. Inorganic Compounds: Compounds that do not contain Carbon.

      a. Sodium Chloride: NaCl, or better know as salt

      b. Sulfur Compounds: SO₂ (sulfur dioxide), H₂SO₄ (sulfuric acid)

      c. Nitrogen Compounds: N₂O (nitrous oxide), HNO₃ (nitric acid)

 

IV. Nuclear Energy:

A.     Isotopes: Elements that have different numbers of neutrons.

B.     Natural Radioactive Decay: nuclear change in which unstable isotopes (radioisotopes) spontaneously emit fast-moving particles, high energy radiation, at a fixed rate.

C.     Gamma Rays: a form of high energy radiation that is released from radioisotopes.

D.    Half-Life: The time it takes for ½ of a radioactive nuclei sample to lose its weight by giving off high energy radiation waves.