Foundations Elements, Atoms, and Ions

The chemical elements are essential to each of us in our daily lives. The most important element is carbon, which is found in virtually all of the molecules that make up the living cell. Although certain elements are present in our bodies in tiny amounts, these elements can have profound effects on our health and behavior. As we will see in this chapter, lithium can be a miracle treatment for someone with manic-depressive disease, and our cobalt levels can have a remarkable impact on behavior. Many elements in our bodies serve no useful purpose, but they are found in the food we eat, the water we drink, and the air we breathe. As a result, the human body typically contains significant amounts of elements such as aluminum, barium, strontium, uranium, and gold, which are usually deposited in the bones or liver. 

Many elements have great economic significance. For example, about one billion tons of iron and 60 million tons of aluminum are produced in the world each year and are used mainly in structural materials. Iron is also important in another way that we seldom think about. Earth s core, 4,000 miles in diameter, consists mostly of molten iron. The center of earth s core, with a diameter of about 1,500 miles, may consist of solid iron. 

As we will see as we progress in our study of chemistry, most of the chemical elements have an important impact on our lives. 

What elements do you think are most abundant in the human body  

Do you know any chemical formulas for compounds For example, what is the chemical formula for water What is the chemical formula for table salt Do you know any other formulas  

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Chemical Foundations Elements, Atoms, and Ions Chapter 3 49... 

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