Atoms and Matter Overview

Atoms and Matter

• Atoms are the fundamental building blocks of all matter.
• Composed of subatomic particles: neutrons, protons, and electrons.
• Matter occupies space and has mass, consisting of elements which cannot be chemically broken down.

Energy and Matter

• Energy is the ability to perform work.
• According to Einstein’s theory, energy and matter can be converted into each other.

Elements in the Human Body

• Approximately 99% of the human body is made up of six elements: oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, carbon, calcium, and phosphorus.
• Another five elements (sulfur, potassium, sodium, chlorine, and magnesium) comprise about 0.85% of body mass.
• Trace elements are minerals present in tiny amounts in living tissues, useful in determining the age of biological remains.

Radioisotopes

• Unstable chemical elements that emit radiation while stabilizing.
• Used in imaging and treatment within the field of medicine.
• Pose dangers to health and environment, with notable disasters at Fukushima (2011) and Chernobyl (1986).

Fukushima Disaster

• Triggered by an earthquake and tsunami, releasing radioactive isotopes into the environment.
• Contaminated air, water, and soil, leading to long-term ecological damage.

Chernobyl Disaster

• Explosion released a vast quantity of radioactive materials, affecting Europe.
• Resulted in the creation of a contaminated exclusion zone.

Health Risks from Radioactive Isotopes

• Iodine-131 can concentrate in the thyroid, increasing thyroid cancer risk, particularly in children.
• Cesium-137 can contaminate food sources, leading to long-term health risks and cancers.
• Acute Radiation Syndrome affected many workers at Chernobyl, causing severe health consequences.

Long-term Effects

• Increased rates of thyroid and other cancers in populations exposed in both Fukushima and Chernobyl incidents.

Environmental Impact

• Fukushima caused concerns regarding marine life contamination; cesium found in fish led to fishing restrictions.
• Chernobyl's exclusion zone remains heavily contaminated but is paradoxically allowing some wildlife to thrive due to limited human activity.

Water Properties

• Water exhibits high specific heat, requiring significant energy to change temperature; crucial for homeostasis in organisms.
• High specific heat helps maintain stable environments for aquatic life and allows cooling in plants through evaporation.

Solvent Properties of Water

• Water’s polarity makes it an excellent solvent, crucial for metabolic reactions in cells.
• Almost all biochemical reactions require reactants to be dissolved in water.

Carbohydrates Overview

• Composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen with a basic formula ratio of 1:2:1.
• Monosaccharides, the simplest sugars, are the basic building blocks of carbohydrates.

Monosaccharides Examples

• Glucose: primary energy source for cells and brain; derived from foods.
• Galactose: milk sugar, important for brain and immune system functions.
• Fructose: found in fruits and honey.

Disaccharides

• Formed by condensation reactions, linking two monosaccharides via glycosidic bonds.
• Examples include:
  • Sucrose: glucose + fructose (table sugar).
  • Maltose: glucose + glucose (from hydrolyzed starch).
  • Lactose: glucose + galactose (found in mammalian milk).

This quiz explores the fundamental concepts of atoms and matter, including subatomic particles and the elements that make up the human body. Additionally, it introduces energy and its relation to matter, along with the roles of radioisotopes in medicine. Test your knowledge on these essential scientific principles.