H-Chemistry-001

Atoms, Chemistry & Physics

Earth is composed of Atoms; Chemistry & Physics reveal their Cosmic Laws of Behavior

Atoms have a nucleus surrounded by electrons in orbit, in layers (shells), held in place by “magnetic” attraction. Negative charged electrons in orbit are matched with positive charged protons in the nucleus. Experimenters discovered multiple kinds of atoms as shown in the Periodic table.

By 1850 most of the Periodic Table of atoms had been filled, my grandfather was born in 1956 when buffalo still roamed his pending homestead. Knowledge of atoms is recent.

The electrons do not orbit the nucleus, as the moon orbits the earth, the electrons orbits are influenced by external surroundings; temperature and proximity of other atoms influence the shape of their orbits.

Light is emitted when electrons jump from one orbit to another due to excess stress. This is the source of all light. The following figure shows ways of expressing how atoms can combine, to form molecules (molecules are combinations of atoms). Matter can have multiple states: solid, liquid or gas, depending on temperature & pressure. The wave length of light emitting from an atom is unique and serves as a “fingerprint” identifying the source atom; a major source of astronomy knowledge.

How atoms combine

Atoms & molecules can exist in three states: solid, liquid or gas depending on temperature and pressure. In solution molecules can separate into ions; e.g. when salt , NaCl Sodium Chloride, is dissolved in water the Sodium and Chloride separate to form Ions. the Na ion being plus and the Cl ion being minus. Earths seas are full of “atom-ion-molecular soup” being constantly stirred and mixed. Atoms have no loyalty, they instantly respond to push pull magnetic forces & thermal-mechanical gradients.

The molecules of life came together in water

Atoms Essential to Life

Life are dependent on the special attributes of: hydrogen, carbon, oxygen, nitrogen & phosphorous atoms. They readily combine in a variety of combinations using their assortment of “sticks” & “holes” (negative sticks and positive holes) to bond together. Fortunately these ingredients are readily moved about by natures forces, especially in a water environment, and can remain attached within the range of temperature and pressures that sustain life.

Once Earths initial accretion turmoil subsided it’s atoms could experiment, creating a vast assortment of combinations. After billions of years of trial & error combinations that could make copies of themselves emerged and still function. All due to Earths unique environmental conditions.

Atoms and Molecules are building blocks in “Sea Soup”

A nucleotide contains either a ribose sugar (in RNA) or deoxyribose sugar (in DNA).

The four DNA nucleotides: A, G, C, T, U (Chemical “letters” for genetic language ”words”)

Life essential molecules created by codon “words”

DNA binding proteins group into several types on the basis of their structure or motif.

These “chemical diagrams” represent real combinations in our anatomy and about us

All too tiny to be seen, except by use of a powerful microscope.