Basic Chemistry Flashcards
Octet rule
Trying to get to 8 electrons in its valence shell
Valence shell
Outermost electron shell of an atom
Can gain, lose, or share electrons
Electronegativity
Tendency of an atom to monopolize electrons
Ionic bonds
Formed when ions of opposite charge are attracted to each other
Cation
Ion with positive charge
Anion
Ion with negative charge
Covalent bond
Formed when electrons are shared
Very strong
Polar covalent bonds
Not all covalent bonds are the same
Some elements can monopolize electrons more effectively
Results in unequal distribution of electrons (charge), which leads to polarity (like a magnet)
Hydrogen bonds
Formed between polar molecules attracted to each other
Form/break rapidly
Nonpolar covalent bond
Bonding electrons shared equally between 2 atoms
No charge on atoms
Water
70% of earth, body and cell
High boiling temperature(liquid over a wide range of temperatures)
Solid waster is less dense than liquid water
Polar solvent->makes many hydrogen bonds to dissolve substances
Can form ions (ionizes): results in the formation of acids and bases
Determined by ph scale
Hydrophilic
Water-loving
Molecules readily form hydrogen bonds with water
Usually charged (ions) or polar
Hydrophobic
Water fearing
Molecules cannot form hydrogen bonds and therefore do not interact
Cannot be dissolved in water by themselves
Usually nonpolar
Ph scale
Low ph=acid
Ph=7=neutral
High ph=base
Cells spend a lot of energy regulating ph (6.8)
Protein folding is directly implicated by ph
Polymer
A large molecule created by covalently linking together many smaller subunit molecules (monomers)
Biological polymers:
Sugars: polysaccharides (complex carbohydrates) formed when many monosaccharides (simple sugars) are joined together
Proteins: monomers=amino acids
