Matter is made up of atoms, which contain a nucleus of protons and neutrons surrounded by an electron cloud. Atoms are electrically neutral and bond with other atoms by sharing, losing, or gaining electrons in their outer valence shell. There are two main types of bonds: covalent bonds form when atoms share electrons, and ionic bonds form when one atom transfers an electron to another. Understanding the basic building blocks of matter and how atoms bond is fundamental to chemistry.

1. Introduction to Basic Chemistry

2. I. Building Blocks of Matter: MATTER is made up of the smallest BASIC particle called an ATOM (matter is anything that has mass…pretty much everything around you)

4. ENERGY LEVEL or ELECTRON CLOUD: area outside the nucleus that contains the electrons

6. II. Properties of Atoms Atoms are electrically NEUTRAL Number of ELECTRONS is equal to the number of PROTONS

7. 2. In nature, atoms will BOND to other atoms to become stable ELECTRONS are part of why atoms bond together

8. There are 2 types of electrons CORE and VALENCE electrons: ***Valence Electrons: OUTSIDE electrons that are involved in bonding.

9. 3. BONDING: an attraction within atoms to form a chemical compound All atoms are electrically neutral but are UNSTABLE until they form an attraction with another atom The outermost energy level may SHARE, LOSE, or GAIN electrons to form a BOND and become stable

10. Two types of bonds found within atoms: 1. Covalent: Atoms share electrons (can be single, double, or triple)

11. Two types of bonds found within atoms: 2. Ionic: When one or more electrons is lost from one atom and transferred to another