Biochemistry-Vocabulary Set #1

Question 1

Atom

Answer 1

basic unit of matter

Question 2

Molecule

Answer 2

smallest unit of most compounds

Question 3

Element

Answer 3

substance consisting entirely of one type of atom

Question 4

Ion

Answer 4

tom that has a positive or negative charge

Question 5

Atomic Number

Answer 5

the number of protons in an element

Question 6

Ionic Bond

Answer 6

bond formed when one or more electrons are transferred from one atom to another

Question 7

Covalent Bond

Answer 7

bond formed by the sharing of electrons between atoms

Question 8

Hydrogen Bond

Answer 8

a bond that occurs between water molecules, because water is polar

Question 9

Polar

Answer 9

molecules have a part that is positively charged, while another part is negatively charged

Question 10

Non-Polar

Answer 10

molecules that have no charge

Question 11

Cohesion

Answer 11

attraction between molecules of the same substance

Question 12

Surface Tension

Answer 12

The tension of the surface film of a liquid caused by the attraction of the particles in the surface layer by the bulk of the liquid, which tends to minimize surface area

Question 13

Adhesion

Answer 13

attraction between molecules of different substances; in plants, attraction between unlike molecules

Question 14

Capillary Action

Answer 14

tendency of water to rise in a thin tube

Question 15

Universal Solvent

Answer 15

water is the universal solvent because of its polar nature-can dissolve many other polar substances

Question 16

Homeostasis

Answer 16

process by which organisms maintain a relatively stable internal environment

Question 17

Solution

Answer 17

mixture of two or more substances in which the molecules of the substances are evenly distributed

Question 18

Homogeneous

Answer 18

Consisting of parts all of the same kind

Question 19

Solute

Answer 19

substance that is dissolved in a solvent to make a solution

Question 20

Solvent

Answer 20

substance in which a solute is dissolved to form a solution

Question 21

Acid

Answer 21

compound that forms hydrogen ions (H+) in solution

Question 22

Base

Answer 22

compound that produces hydroxide ions (OH+) in solution

Question 23

pH Scale

Answer 23

measurement system used to indicate the concentration of hydrogen ions (H+) in solution; ranges from 0 to 14

Question 24

Indicator

Answer 24

a chemical which changes color in the presence of an acid or a base

Question 25

Buffer

Answer 25

weak acid or base that can react with strong acids or bases to help prevent sharp, sudden changes in pH