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Atoms and Elements in Anatomy & Physiology

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Terms in this set (20)

  • What are the three main subatomic particles in an atom?
    Protons (positive charge, in nucleus), Neutrons (no charge, in nucleus), and Electrons (negative charge, in electron shells).
  • What determines the identity of an element?
    The number of protons in the nucleus, also called the atomic number.
  • What is the difference between atomic number and mass number?
    Atomic number = number of protons; Mass number = protons + neutrons.
  • What are isotopes?
    Atoms of the same element with the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons.
  • Why are some isotopes radioactive?
    Some isotopes are unstable and undergo radioactive decay.
  • What is the role of valence electrons?
    Valence electrons are in the outermost shell and determine how an atom interacts or bonds with other atoms.
  • How many electrons can the first three electron shells hold?
    1st shell holds up to 2 electrons, 2nd shell up to 8 electrons, 3rd shell up to 8 electrons (for our purposes).
  • What makes an atom stable?
    Having a full outer electron shell makes an atom stable and less likely to react.
  • What happens when an atom has an incomplete outer shell?
    Atoms with incomplete outer shells tend to interact or bond with other atoms to achieve stability.
  • What are the four major elements that make up most of the human body?
    Oxygen, Carbon, Hydrogen, and Nitrogen.
  • What percentage of the human body mass is oxygen?
    Oxygen makes up about 65% of body mass.
  • What percentage of the human body mass is carbon?
    Carbon makes up about 18.5% of body mass.
  • What percentage of the human body mass is hydrogen?
    Hydrogen makes up about 9.5% of body mass.
  • What percentage of the human body mass is nitrogen?
    Nitrogen makes up about 3.2% of body mass.
  • What other elements are important in the human body besides the four major ones?
    Calcium, Phosphorus, Potassium, Sulfur, Sodium, Chlorine, and Magnesium.
  • How do atoms and molecules make physiology possible?
    Atoms form molecules through chemical reactions, which build structures and enable processes essential for physiology.
  • What is the relationship between minerals, proteins, and bone strength?
    Minerals combined with proteins give bones their strength.
  • How do chemical reactions and enzymes relate to food?
    Chemical reactions with enzymes release usable nutrients from food.
  • How do oxygen and nutrients help cells?
    Oxygen and nutrients help cells produce energy.
  • What is the key takeaway about chemistry in the body?
    Every structure and process in the body depends on chemistry.