CHEMISTRY 139 – Chemistry: Physical Principles

A course for students of the life sciences

Welcome!

C6H12O6(aq) + 6 O2(g) 6 CO2(g) + 6 H2O(l)

Silberberg Chapters. 1: 1.1 – 1.6

REVIEW!! 2: 2.1 – 2.9
3: 3.1 – 3.5

Measurements and Observations

Measurements contain Maybe I should’ve been

number and scale. more clear. I am paying
you 2000 a week…but in
quarters, not dollars.

UNITS ARE IMPORTANT!

1
Système International (SI)

Quantity Unit Symbol Common non-SI

mass kilogram kg g, mg, μg

length meter m cm, mm, nm, Å
time second s hr, min
temperature Kelvin K ºC, ºF
amount mole mol
electric current ampere A

Derived Units

Unit Conversion (dimensional analysis)

Keep track of your units. It will help prevent mistakes.

 x unit B 
measuremen
measurementt unit A
unit A  = measurement unit B
 y unit A 

Conversion
factor

Example: The hemoglobin molecule is nearly spherical with a diameter of

about 55 angstroms. How many hemoglobin molecules will fit within
a length of 1 cm?

2
Significant figures:
What is the height of the paperclip?

How many significant figures does each of the following

measurements have?

(a) 0.036653 m (b) 7.2100 x 10–3 g

(c) 72,100 km (d) $25.03

3
 Atoms and Molecules:
The Structure of Matter

Basic Definitions

Matter: anything that has both mass & volume.

Properties: describe or identify matter.

e.g. temperature, volume

intensive: do not depend on amount.

extensive: do depend on amount.

Logic Tree of Classification

of Matter

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Dalton’s Atomic Theory (1808)

• Elements composed of tiny particles called atoms.

• Atoms of a given element are identical and different
from atoms of other elements.
• Compounds are made of elements and the ratio of the number of
atoms of each element is an integer or simple fraction.

• A chemical reaction merely rearranges atoms.

Law of Multiple Proportions – when elements form two different

compounds, the mass ratios are related by small whole numbers
Nitrogen & oxygen combine to form NO or NO2:
In NO the N:O mass ratio is 7:8
In NO2 the N:O mass ratio is 7:16

Structural Model of Atom

(10-15 m)
Atom - neutral overall
- positively charged central nucleus
surrounded by negatively charged
electrons.

10-10 m Elements
- atoms of each element have the
same number of protons (and
electrons)

A
Z X
27
13 Al 27
13 Al 3

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 In Nature, atoms of the same element may have different numbers
of neutrons.
10 11
= isotopes E.g. 5 B and 5 B

In any sample of an element, the relative abundance of each isotope

remains constant.

Different isotopes of an element have different atomic masses:

Atoms are tiny so atomic masses measured in atomic mass units (amu).
- definition: one atom of 12C has a mass of exactly 12.000 amu.

In any sample of an element, the relative abundance of each isotope

remains constant.

- can calculate an average atomic mass for each element

based on masses of each isotope and its abundance:

Terrestrial carbon: 98.89% 12C (12.000 amu)

1.11% 13C (13.0034 amu).

What is the average atomic mass of carbon?