Biology Lesson 2: The Chemistry of Life Flashcards
Chemistry
The Study of Matter
Cells
The smallest organisms, the building blocks of life
Atoms
Atoms are the building blocks of elements
What are atoms made of?
Protons, Neutrons, and Electrons
Nucleus
The center of an atom comprised of protons and neutrons
Electron shell(s)
The areas in an atom where electrons exist, orbiting the nucleus
Ion
An atom with a positive or negative charge
Bonds between atoms
Ionic bonds, Covalent bond, Polar bonding, non-polar bonding
Chemical reactions
When atoms come together to make a molecule, or when a molecule breaks up into separate atoms
Reactants
The atoms that come together to form a molecule in a chemical reaction
Product
The molecule that results from reactants coming together
First Law of Thermodynamics
Matter cannot be created or destroyed
Second Law of Thermodynamics
Entropy: given enough time, everything wears out and falls apart
The building blocks of life
Carbohydrates, lipids, protons, nucleic acids
Organic chemistry
a study of the common elements that make up living things and the chemical compounds produced by living things
