Chapter Objectives

After reading this chapter, you should be able to:

Understand that science is usually reliable because information is gathered in a manner that requires impartial evaluation and continuous revision.

Understand that matter is made up of atoms that have a specific subatomic structure of protons, neutrons, and electrons.

Recognize that atoms of different elements have different atomic structures and that isotopes of the same element may differ in the number of neutrons present.

Recognize that atoms may be combined and held together by chemical bonds to produce molecules.

Understand that rearranging chemical bonds results in chemical reactions and that these reactions are associated with energy changes.

Recognize that matter may be solid, liquid, or gas, depending on the amount of kinetic energy contained in the molecules.

Realize that energy can be neither created nor destroyed, but when energy is converted from one form to another, some energy is converted into a less useful form.

Understand that energy can be of different qualities.

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