2: The Chemical Foundation of Life Flashcards
molecule that donates hydrogen ions and increases the concentration of hydrogen ions in a solution
acid
attraction between water molecules and other molecules
adhesion
hydrocarbon consisting of a linear chain of carbon atoms
aliphatic hydrocarbon
negative ion that is formed by an atom gaining one or more electrons
anion
hydrocarbon consisting of closed rings of carbon atoms
aromatic hydrocarbon
the smallest unit of matter that retains all of the chemical properties of an element
atom
calculated mean of the mass number for an element’s isotopes
atomic mass
total number of protons in an atom
atomic number
statement of a chemical reaction with the number of each type of atom equalized for both the products and reactants
balanced chemical equation
molecule that donates hydroxide ions or otherwise binds excess hydrogen ions and decreases the hydrogen ions’ concentration in a solution
base
substance that resists a change in pH by absorbing or releasing hydrogen or hydroxide ions
buffer
amount of heat required to change the temperature of one gram of water by one degree Celsius
calorie
occurs because water molecules are attracted to charges on the inner surfaces of narrow tubular structures such as glass tubes, drawing the water molecules to the tubes’ sides
capillary action
positive ion that is formed by an atom losing one or more electrons
cation
interaction between two or more of the same or different atoms that results in forming molecules
chemical bond
process leading to rearranging atoms in molecules
chemical reaction
the ability to combine and to chemically bond with each other
chemical reactivity
intermolecular forces between water molecules caused by the polar nature of water; responsible for surface tension
cohesion
substance composed of molecules consisting of atoms of at least two different elements
compound
type of strong bond formed between two atoms of the same or different elements; forms when electrons are shared between atoms
covalent bond
release of an ion from a molecule such that the original molecule now consists of an ion and the charged remains of the original, such as when water ___s into H+ and OH-
dissociation
ion necessary for nerve impulse conduction, muscle contractions, and water balance
electrolyte
negatively charged subatomic particle that resides outside of the nucleus in the electron orbital; lacks functional mass and has a negative charge of –1 unit
electron
arrangement of electrons in an atom’s electron shell (for example, 1s22s22p6)
electron configuration
how electrons are spatially distributed surrounding the nucleus; the area where we are most likely to find an electron
electron orbital
movement of electrons from one element to another; important in creating ionic bonds
electron transfer
ability of some elements to attract electrons (often of hydrogen atoms), acquiring partial negative charges in molecules and creating partial positive charges on the hydrogen atoms
electronegativity
one of 118 unique substances that cannot break down into smaller substances; each element has unique properties and a specified number of protons
element
molecules that share overall structure and bonding patterns, but differ in how the atoms are three dimensionally placed such that they are mirror images of each other
enantiomers
steady state of relative reactant and product concentration in reversible chemical reactions in a closed system
equilibrium
change from liquid to gaseous state at a body of water’s surface, plant leaves, or an organism’s skin
evaporation
group of atoms that provides or imparts a specific function to a carbon skeleton
functional group
isomer with similar bonding patterns differing in the placement of atoms alongside a double covalent bond
geometric isomer
high amount of energy required for liquid water to turn into water vapor
heat of vaporization of water
molecule that consists only of carbon and hydrogen
hydrocarbon
weak bond between slightly positively charged hydrogen atoms and slightly negatively charged atoms in other molecules
hydrogen bond
describes ions or polar molecules that interact well with other polar molecules such as water
hydrophilic
describes uncharged nonpolar molecules that do not interact well with polar molecules such as water
hydrophobic
(also, noble gas) element with filled outer electron shell that is unreactive with other atoms
inert gas
atom or chemical group that does not contain equal numbers of protons and electrons
ion
chemical bond that forms between ions with opposite charges (cations and anions)
ionic bond
chemical reaction where reactants proceed unidirectionally to form products
irreversible chemical reaction
molecules that differ from one another even though they share the same chemical formula
isomers
one or more forms of an element that have different numbers of electrons
isotope
chemical law stating that the rate of a reaction is proportional to the concentration of the reacting substances
law of mass action
(also, pH paper) filter paper treated with a
natural water-soluble dye that changes its color as the pH of the environment changes in order to use it as a pH indicator
litmus paper
total number of protons and neutrons in an atom
mass number
anything that has mass and occupies space
matter
two or more atoms chemically bonded together
molecule
uncharged particle that resides in an atom’s nucleus; has a mass of one amu
neutron
type of covalent bond that forms between atoms when electrons are shared equally between them
nonpolar covalent bond
core of an atom; contains protons and neutrons
nucleus
rule that atoms are most stable when they hold eight electrons in their outermost shells
octet rule
region surrounding the nucleus; contains electrons
orbital
any molecule containing carbon (except
carbon dioxide)
organic molecule
organizational chart of elements indicating each element’s atomic number and atomic mass; provides key information about the elements’ properties
periodic table
scale ranging from zero to 14 that is inversely proportional to the hydrogen ions’ concentration in a solution
pH scale
type of covalent bond that forms as a result of unequal electron sharing, resulting in creating slightly positive and negative charged molecule regions
polar covalent bond
molecule that is result of chemical reaction
product
positively charged particle that resides in the atom’s nucleus; has a mass of one amu and a charge of +1
proton
isotope that emits radiation comprised of subatomic particles to form more stable elements
radioisotope
molecule that takes part in a chemical reaction
reactant
chemical reaction that functions bidirectionally, where products may turn into reactants if their concentration is great enough
reversible chemical reaction
substance capable of dissolving another substance
solvent
the amount of heat one gram of a substance must absorb or lose to change its temperature by one degree Celsius
specific heat capacity
when a polar water molecule surrounds charged or polar molecules thus keeping them dissolved and in solution
sphere of hydration
molecules that share a chemical formula but differ in the placement of their chemical bonds
structural isomers
hydrocarbon chain or ring containing an atom of another element in place of one of the backbone carbons
substituted hydrocarbon
tension at the surface of a body of liquid
that prevents the molecules from separating; created by the attractive cohesive forces between the liquid’s molecules
surface tension
outermost shell of an atom
valence shell
very weak interaction between
molecules due to temporary charges attracting atoms that are very close together
van der Waals interaction
(AKA Dalton) - amount of mass in one proton or neutron
atomic mass unit (amu)
