AP BIO: Chemistry Vocabulary

Question 1

Matter

Answer 1

anything that takes up space and has mass

Question 1

Atom

Answer 1

the smallest unit of matter that still retains the properties of an element

Question 2

Subatomic Particle

Answer 2

even smaller parts of an atom (proton, neutrons, electrons)

Question 3

Protons

Answer 3

electrically neutral subatomic particle found in the nucleus of an atom

Question 4

Neutrons

Answer 4

electrically neutral subatomic particle found in the nucleus of an atom

Question 5

Electrons

Answer 5

electrically negative subatomic particle found in a cloud around the nucleus of an atom

Question 6

Element

Answer 6

substance that cannot be broken down to other substances by chemical reactions

Question 7

Essential Elements

Answer 7

elements known to be essential to life

Question 8

Trace Elements

Answer 8

elements required by an organism in only minute quantities

Question 9

Compound

Answer 9

substance consisting of two or more elements combined in a fixed ratio

Question 10

Isotopes

Answer 10

atoms that have the same number of protons but different number of neutrons

Question 11

Radioactive Isotope

Answer 11

an unstable isotope in which the nucles decays spontaneously giving off particles and energy

Question 12

Energy

Answer 12

the ability to do work

Question 13

Work

Answer 13

the ability to make something happen that wouldn’t happen itself

Question 14

Potential Energy

Answer 14

energy that matter stores because of its position or location

Question 15

Kinetic Energy

Answer 15

the energy of motion

Question 16

Chemical Bonds

Answer 16

the attractions that hold atoms in interaction

Question 17

Activation Energy

Answer 17

the energy needed to start a chemical reaction

Question 18

Covalent Bonds

Answer 18

the sharing of a pair of valence electrons by two atoms (ex. H2, O2, H2O, CH4)

Question 19

Molecule

Answer 19

two or more atoms held together by covalent bonds

Question 20

Structural Formula

Answer 20

the abbreviation of a structure using lines to show bonds (H-H)

Question 21

Molecular Formula

Answer 21

the abbreviation of a structure using subscripts (ex. H2)

Question 22

Double Covalent Bond

Answer 22

the sharing of two pairs of valence electrons

Question 23

Non Polar Covalent Bond

Answer 23

two atoms with equal electronegativity (electrons are equally shared) ex. Oil

Question 24

Electronegativity

Answer 24

the attraction of electrons in an atom with a convalent bond

Question 25

Polar Covalent Bond

Answer 25

two atoms with unequal electronegativity (electrons more on one side) ex. Water

Question 26

Hydrogen Bond

Answer 26

an interaction where a hydrogen atom covalently bonded to one electronegative atom is also attracted to an oxygen on another electronegative atom

Question 27

Van Der Waals Interactions

Answer 27

the brief interaction of a positively and negative charged regions of nonpolar molecules

Question 28

Ion

Answer 28

a charged atom

Question 29

Cation

Answer 29

positive ion

Question 30

Anion

Answer 30

negative ion

Question 31

Ionic Bond

Answer 31

the attraction of a cation and anion that form an interaction (strongest type of bond results from a transfer of electrons).

Question 31

Ionic Compound

Answer 31

compound formed by ionic bonds also known as salts

Question 32

Chemical Reactions

Answer 32

the making and breaking of chemical bonds that lead to changes in the composition of matter

Question 33

Reactants

Answer 33

the starting materials in a chemical reaction

Question 34

Products

Answer 34

the final materials in a chemical reaction

Question 35

Dynamic Equilibrium

Answer 35

reactions are still going on, but with no net effect on the concentrations of reactant and products

Question 36

Oxidation

Answer 36

reaction in which one of the reactants loses electrons, becoming more positive

Question 37

Reduction

Answer 37

reaction i which one of the reactants gains electrons, becoming more negative