AP BIO: Chemistry Vocabulary Flashcards
Matter
anything that takes up space and has mass
Atom
the smallest unit of matter that still retains the properties of an element
Subatomic Particle
even smaller parts of an atom (proton, neutrons, electrons)
Protons
electrically neutral subatomic particle found in the nucleus of an atom
Neutrons
electrically neutral subatomic particle found in the nucleus of an atom
Electrons
electrically negative subatomic particle found in a cloud around the nucleus of an atom
Element
substance that cannot be broken down to other substances by chemical reactions
Essential Elements
elements known to be essential to life
Trace Elements
elements required by an organism in only minute quantities
Compound
substance consisting of two or more elements combined in a fixed ratio
Isotopes
atoms that have the same number of protons but different number of neutrons
Radioactive Isotope
an unstable isotope in which the nucles decays spontaneously giving off particles and energy
Energy
the ability to do work
Work
the ability to make something happen that wouldn’t happen itself
Potential Energy
energy that matter stores because of its position or location
Kinetic Energy
the energy of motion
Chemical Bonds
the attractions that hold atoms in interaction
Activation Energy
the energy needed to start a chemical reaction
Covalent Bonds
the sharing of a pair of valence electrons by two atoms (ex. H2, O2, H2O, CH4)
Molecule
two or more atoms held together by covalent bonds
Structural Formula
the abbreviation of a structure using lines to show bonds (H-H)
Molecular Formula
the abbreviation of a structure using subscripts (ex. H2)
Double Covalent Bond
the sharing of two pairs of valence electrons
Non Polar Covalent Bond
two atoms with equal electronegativity (electrons are equally shared) ex. Oil
Electronegativity
the attraction of electrons in an atom with a convalent bond
Polar Covalent Bond
two atoms with unequal electronegativity (electrons more on one side) ex. Water
Hydrogen Bond
an interaction where a hydrogen atom covalently bonded to one electronegative atom is also attracted to an oxygen on another electronegative atom
Van Der Waals Interactions
the brief interaction of a positively and negative charged regions of nonpolar molecules
Ion
a charged atom
Cation
positive ion
Anion
negative ion
Ionic Bond
the attraction of a cation and anion that form an interaction (strongest type of bond results from a transfer of electrons).
Ionic Compound
compound formed by ionic bonds also known as salts
Chemical Reactions
the making and breaking of chemical bonds that lead to changes in the composition of matter
Reactants
the starting materials in a chemical reaction
Products
the final materials in a chemical reaction
Dynamic Equilibrium
reactions are still going on, but with no net effect on the concentrations of reactant and products
Oxidation
reaction in which one of the reactants loses electrons, becoming more positive
Reduction
reaction i which one of the reactants gains electrons, becoming more negative
