This introduction to chemistry and seawater gives an overview of the concepts and activities explored in this unit and describes how these investigations build an understanding of ocean literacy.
Chemistry and Seawater
There are lots of substances in the ocean that react with each other in predictable ways on a molecular level.
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Seawater is a mixture made up of water and dissolved substances, including a variety of elements and compounds.
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With over 100 chemical elements, a system is needed to organize the elements in a way that is meaningful and useful.
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The properties of elements and compounds are determined by their structures. The internal structure of an atom and the overall structure of a molecule both contribute to how atoms and molecules behave and react.
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In addition to the types of elements and compounds dissolved in seawater, the amounts of these substances contribute to the properties of seawater.
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Atoms are made of protons and neutrons in a nucleus and electrons that are outside the nucleus. The number and arrangement of electrons in atoms determines how atoms bond to form molecules.
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Covalent compounds are formed by covalent bonding. Covalent bonding involves electrostatic forces and the sharing of electrons between atoms.