Biology Module 2 Flashcards
Substance
A form of matter that has characteristic chemical properties.
Atom
The smallest stable unit of all matter (physical material), which is comprised of protons, neutrons, and electrons.
Element
A pure substance that is comprised of a unique type of atom.
Molecule
A group of atoms that form a unit with specific chemical properties. The atoms may be the same or they may be different, depending on the specific chemical involved.
Compound
A substance that contains two or more atoms from different types of elements held together by chemical bonds.
Hydrophilic
Having a tendency to be attracted to water.
Hydrophobic
Having a tendency to repel water.
Cohesive
A property in which the molecules of a substance are attracted to its own molecules.
Adhesive
A property in which the molecules of a substance are attracted to other similar substances.
Carbohydrate
A molecule composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen in which there are twice as many hydrogen atoms as oxygen atoms.
Lipid
A hydrophobic macromolecule that readily dissolves in nonpolar environments.
Protein
A complex polypeptide that plays a role in the chemistry of an organism.
Nucleic acids
The molecules involved in the making of proteins and the passage of traits from one generation to the next.
Replication
The process by which DNA is copied to produce two duplicate double helixes.
Transcription
The process by which DNA is used to produce messenger RNA.
