Page 64 - Big Ideas Year 10 sciPAD 2025

PHOTOCOPYING PROHIBITED
© Silverback Academic Media
64 SCIPAD - BIG IDEAS - BOOK 2
FUELS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(a) Sugar
(d) BBQ Gas
(b) Wood (c) An explosion
(f) Diamond
(e) Plastic
2. Due to its atomic structure, carbon has unique properties that allow it to serve as a building
block for a diverse range of complex molecules. With help from a Periodic Table, draw a
labelled diagram of a carbon atom with all of its sub-atomic particles.
3. Complete the paragraph by filling in the missing words.
elements - organic - four - valence - carbon - life
Carbon has been called “the element of ” because it is the basis of
all substances. Carbon has four electrons.
Therefore, it is able to bond to other atoms. It is this ability to combine
with not only other atoms, but a range of other
that allows it to produce a vast array of chemical structures.
Key
The Importance of Carbon
Carbon is an essential element for life on Earth. It comprises about half the dry weight of most living
organisms and plays an important role in the structure, biochemistry and nutrition of all living cells.
In essence, life processes are carbon chemistry. This is why scientists refer to carbon chemistry as
organic chemistry.
1. In groups, or on your own, decide if carbon plays an important role in the following items.
Unchecked Sample Pages
For Review Purposes Only - Photocopying Prohibited
www.scipad.co.nz