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General Chemistry and Biochemistry Basics for Anatomy & Physiology

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  • Atomic Number

    Atomic Number is the number of protons in the nucleus; unique to each element.

  • Atomic Mass

    Atomic Mass is the average mass of an atom, including protons and neutrons.

  • Isotopes

    Isotopes are atoms of the same element with different numbers of neutrons; can be stable or radioactive.

  • Radioactive Isotopes

    Radioactive isotopes spontaneously decay, emit radiation, and can be used as tracers or tumor treatments.

  • Oxygen in the Human Body

    Oxygen (O) makes up 65% of the body; part of water and organic molecules; needed for cellular ATP production.

  • Carbon in the Human Body

    Carbon (C) forms the backbone of all organic molecules including carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.

  • Hydrogen in the Human Body

    Hydrogen (H) part of water and organic molecules; ionized form (H+) causes acidity in body fluids.

  • Calcium Functions

    Calcium (Ca) contributes to bone hardness and is necessary for muscle contraction, nerve impulses, and blood clotting.

  • Atomic Structure

    Protons and neutrons are in the nucleus; electrons orbit the nucleus. Protons are positive, neutrons neutral, electrons negative.

  • Molecule

    A molecule is two or more atoms bonded by sharing electrons; if all atoms are the same element, it is still an element (e.g., O2).

  • Compound

    A compound is a chemical substance of two or more different elements bonded together with different properties than the elements.

  • Ionic Bonds

    Ionic bonds are attractions between oppositely charged ions that bind them together.

  • Cation vs Anion

    Cation is a positively charged ion (electron donor); Anion is a negatively charged ion (electron acceptor).

  • Oxidation and Reduction

    Oxidation is loss of electrons; Reduction is gain of electrons.

  • Non-Polar vs Polar Covalent Bonds

    Non-polar covalent bonds share electrons equally; polar covalent bonds share electrons unequally.

  • Hydrogen Bonds

    Hydrogen bonds are weak attractions between a partially positive hydrogen and a partially negative atom (O, N, F) in another molecule or part of the same molecule.

  • Properties of Water

    Water has high heat capacity, is a universal solvent, participates in chemical reactions, and acts as a lubricant and cushion.

  • Percent Solution Calculation

    Percent solution is mass of solute (g) per 100 mL of solution. Example: 15g sugar in 100mL = 15% solution.

  • Dissociation

    Dissociation is when a compound breaks into ions in water, such as ionic salts dissolving.

  • Acids and Bases

    Strong acids fully dissociate H+ ions; strong bases fully dissociate OH- ions; weak acids and bases partially dissociate.

  • pH Scale

    The pH scale ranges 0-14; <7 acidic, 7 neutral, >7 basic. It is logarithmic: each unit change = 10x change in H+ concentration.

  • Buffers

    Buffers are solutes that resist changes in pH to maintain stable body fluid acidity.

  • Salts and Electrolytes

    Salts are electrolytes made of cations (not H+) and anions (not OH-); they dissociate in water and conduct electricity.