Chapter 2 Flashcards
The Chemical Foundation of Life
acid
molecule that donates hydrogen ions and increases the concentration of hydrogen ions in a solution
pH less than 7
adhesion
attraction between water molecules and other molecules
aliphatic hydrocarbon
hydrocarbon consisting of a linear/open chain of carbon atoms
anion
negative ion that is formed by an atom gaining one or more electrons
aromatic hydrocarbon
hydrocarbon consisting of closed rings of carbon atoms
Atom
the smallest unit of matter that retains all of the chemical properties of an element
Atomic mass
calculated mean of the mass number for an element’s isotopes
atomic number
total number of protons in an atom
balanced chemical equation
statement of a chemical reaction with the number of each type of atom equalized for both the products and reactants
Base
molecule that donates hydroxide (OH-) ions or otherwise binds excess hydrogen ions and decreases the hydrogen ions’ concentration in a solution
Buffer
substance that resists a change in pH by absorbing or releasing hydrogen (H+) or hydroxide (OH-) ions
Buffers do so by being composed of certain pairs of solutes: either a weak acid plus a salt derived from that weak acid or a weak base plus a salt of that weak base. For example, a buffer can be composed of dissolved acetic acid (HC 2H 3O 2, a weak acid) and sodium acetate (NaC 2H 3O 2, a salt derived from that acid).
Calorie
amount of heat required to change the temperature of one gram of water (H2O) by one degree Celsius
Capillary action
occurs because water molecules are
attracted to charges on the inner surfaces of narrow tubular structures such as glass tubes, drawing the water molecules to the tubes’ sides. The meniscus in the tube can be higher or lower than the meniscus of the container.
Cation
positive ion that is formed by an atom losing one or more electrons
Chemical bond
interaction between two or more of the same or different atoms that results in forming molecules
chemical reaction
process leading to rearranging atoms in molecules
chemical reactivity
the ability to combine and to
chemically bond with each other
cohesion
intermolecular forces between water molecules caused by the polar nature of water; responsible for surface tension
compound
substance composed of molecules consisting of atoms of at least two different elements
covalent bond
type of strong bond formed between two atoms of the same or different elements; forms when 2+ electrons are shared between atoms
dissociation
release of an ion from a molecule such that the original molecule now consists of an ion and the charged remains of the original, such as when water dissociates
into H+ and OH
Electrolyte
ion necessary for nerve impulse conduction, muscle contractions, and water balance
electron
negatively charged subatomic particle that resides outside the nucleus in the electron orbital; lacks functional mass and has a negative charge of -1 unit
electron configuration
arrangement of electrons in an atom’s electron shell
electron orbital
how electrons are spatially distributed
surrounding the nucleus; the area where we are most likely to find an electron
electron transfer
movement of electrons from one element
to another; important in creating ionic bonds
electronegativity
ability of some elements to attract electrons (often of hydrogen atoms), acquiring partial negative charges in molecules and creating partial positive charges on the hydrogen atoms
element
one of 118 unique substances that cannot break down into smaller substances; each element has unique properties and a specified number of protons
enantiomers
Also known as an optical isomer
molecules that share overall structure and bonding patterns, but differ in how the atoms are three dimensionally placed such that they are mirror images of each other
equilibrium
steady state of relative reactant and product concentration in reversible chemical reactions in a closed system
evaporation
change from liquid to gaseous state at a body of water’s surface, plant leaves, or an organism’s skin
functional group
group of atoms that provides or imparts a specific function to a carbon skeleton
Some of the important functional groups in biological molecules include: hydroxyl, methyl, carbonyl, carboxyl, amino, phosphate, and sulfhydryl groups. These groups play an important role in the formation of molecules like DNA, proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids.
geometric isomer
isomer with similar bonding patterns differing in the placement of atoms alongside a double covalent bond
Geometric isomers are two or more compounds with the same number and types of atoms, and bonds, but which have different geometries for the atoms.
heat of vaporization of water
high amount of energy required for liquid water to turn into water vapor
hydrocarbon
molecule that consists only of carbon and hydrogen
hydrogen bond
weak bond between slightly positively charged hydrogen atoms and slightly negatively charged atoms in other molecules