World of Atoms and Molecules

Suchocki, J. Conceptual Chemistry Understanding Our World of Atoms and Molecules. 2nd ed. United Kingdom Ben-jamin/Onnmings, 2003. 

Dahl JP (2001) Introduction to the Quantum World of Atoms and Molecules. World Scientific, Singapore... 

LEVEL, where WE CAN SEE AND MEASURE THE MATERIALS OF WHICH OUR WORLD IS MADE. In THIS CHAPTER WE WILL DISCUSS THE SCIENHFIC METHOD, WHICH PROVIDES THE FRAMEWORK FOR RESEARCH NOT ONLY IN CHEMISTRY BUT IN ALL OTHER SCIENCES AS WELL. NeXT WE WILL DISCOVER HOW SCIENTISTS DEFINE AND CHARACTERIZE MATTER. ThEN WE WILL FAMILIARIZE OURSELVES WITH THE SYSTEMS OF MEASUREMENT USED IN THE LABORATORY. FINALLY, WE WILL SPEND SOME TIME LEARNING HOW TO HANDLE NUMERICAL RESULTS OF CHEMICAL MEASUREMENTS AND HOW TO SOLVE NUMERICAL PROBLEMS. IN CHAPTER 2 WE WILL BEGIN TO EXPLORE THE MICROSCOPIC WORLD OF ATOMS AND MOLECULES. 

Atoms and molecules are incredibly small and even a tiny chemical sample contains an unimaginable number of them. Therefore, counting the number of atoms or molecules in a sample is impossible. The multiple interpretations of the mole allow us to bridge the gap between the submicroscopic world of atoms and molecules and the macroscopic world that we can observe. 

We have added more macro/micro illustrations to help students understand the connection between the world we see and the world of atoms and molecules. 

Every change in the observable world—from boiling water to the changes that occur as our bodies combat invading viruses—has its basis in the world of atoms and molecules. Thus, as we proceed with our study of chemistry, we will find ourselves thinking in two realms the macroscopic realm of ordinary-sized objects macro = large) and the submicroscopic realm of atoms and molecules. We make our observations in the macroscopic world, but in order to understand that world, we must visualize how atoms and molecules behave at the submicroscopic level. Chemistry is the science that seeks to understand the properties and behavior of matter by studying the properties and behavior of atoms and molecules. 

Every change in the observable world—from boiling water to the changes that occur as our bodies combat invading viruses—has its basis in the world of atoms and molecules. 

We will begin our study of chemistry at the macroscopic level, where we can see and measure the materials of which our world is made. In this chapter, we will discuss the scientific method, which provides the framework for research not only in chemistry but in all other sciences as well. Next we will discover how scientists define and characterize matter. Then we will spend some time learning how to handle numerical results of chemical measurements and solve numerical problems. In Chapter 2, we will begin to explore the microscopic world of atoms and molecules. 

But chemists also operate in the microscopic world of atoms and molecules. Because atoms and molecules are so very small, chemists have only just recently been able to see them, thanks to advanced technology in the most powerful of microscopes. Chemists think of acids and bases in terms of the donating and accepting of protons, not just as color changes in indicators. Models help chemists understand and predict the processes that take place in the microscopic world. These models also translate into real-life applications. 

How much of this reactant do I need to make this much product How much product can I make with this much reactant In order to answer these questions, chemists must be able to take a balanced chemical equation, expressed in terms of atoms and molecules, and convert it to grams or pounds or tons — some type of unit that they can actually weigh out in the lab. The mole concept enables chemists to move from the microscopic world of atoms and molecules to the real word of grams and kilograms and is one of the most important central concepts in chemistry. In this chapter, I introduce you to Mr. Mole. 

Avogadro s number stands for a certain number of things. Normally, those things are atoms and molecules. So the mole relates to the microscopic world of atoms and molecules. But how does it relate to the macroscopic world where I work ... 

Molecular art Learning chemistry requires the ability to connect the macroscopic world of everyday life to the microscopic world of atoms and molecules. In this edition we have added molecular art to macroscopic pictures to emphasize this connection. 

So, at this point, we are fairly sure that matter consists of individual atoms. The nature of these atoms is quite complex, and the components of atoms don t behave much like the objects we see in the world of our experience. We call this world the macroscopic world— Ihe world of cars, tables, baseballs, rocks, oceans, and so forth. One of the main jobs of a scientist is to delve into the macroscopic world and discover its parts. For example, when you view a beach from a distance, it looks like a continuous solid substance. As you get closer, you see that the beach is really made up of individual grains of sand. As we examine these grains of sand, we find that they are composed of silicon and oxygen atoms connected to each other to form intricate shapes (Fig. 1.2). One of the main challenges of chemistry is to nnderstand the connection between the macroscopic world that we experience and the microscopic world of atoms and molecules. To truly understand chemistry, yon mnst learn to think on the atomic level. We will spend much time in this text helping yon learn to do that. 

There is a direct connection between the world of atoms and molecules and the world you and I experience every day. Chemists explore this coimection. They seek to understand it. A good, simple definition of chemistry is the science that tries to understand how matter behaves bp studying how atoms and molecules behave. 

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