GLY150:  INTRODUCTION TO OCEANOGRAPHY University of North Carolina Wilmington

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Lecture Outline

Chemistry Background

I.  Atom

• Nucleus
  • Protons (positive charge), most mass in atom
  • Neutrons (no charge)

• Electrons (negative charge)

II.  Element

• Atomic number - number of protons in nucleus, unique characteristic of each element
• Atomic mass- number of protons and neutrons in nucleus

III. Molecule

IV.  Ions - atoms with net electrical charge due to a gain or lose of electrons in outer orbitals

• Cation - net positive charge
• Anion - net negative charge

V.  Chemical bonding

• Covalent - bonding by sharing electrons in outer orbitals (e.g. water molecule)
• Ionic - bonding by electrical attraction (e.g. sodium chloride)

VI.  Isotopes

• Isotope - atom with a different number of neutrons in nucleus

 Some helpful links relevant to this lecture:
Chemical bonding
Elements and Compounds
Periodic Table of Elements

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