Chapter 2 Flashcards
Electron
negatively charged subatomic particle with negligible mass in an atom
Proton
a positively charged subatomic particle in the nucleus of an atom
Atom
smallest unit of an element that still retains the property of the element
Matter
anything that takes up space and has mass
Element
a pure substance that cannot be chemically broken down; each element is made up of and defined by a single type of atom
Energy
the ability to do work
Homeostasis
the maintenance of a relatively constant internal environment
Biology
the study of life
Prion
infectious agent composed only of protein
Virus
infectious agent mad up of a protein shell that encloses genetic information
Base
substance that reduces the hydrogen ion concentration of solutions, making them more basic
Acid
substance that increases the hydrogen ion concentration of solutions, making them more acidic
pH
measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions (H+) in a solution
Ion
electronically charged atom, the charge resulting from the loss or gain of electrons
Ionic Bond
strong electrical attraction between oppositely charged ions formed by the transfer of one or more electrons from one atom or another
Solution
mixture of solute and solvent
Solute
a dissolved substance
Solvent
substances in which other substances can dissolve
Adhesion
the attraction between molecules and a surface
Cohesion
the attraction between molecules
Hydrogen Bond
a weak electrical attraction between a partially positive hydrogen atom and an atom with a partial negative charge
Polar Molecule
molecule in which electrons are not shared equally between atoms, causing a partial negative charge at one end and a partial positive at the other
Hydrophilic
“water-loving” - molecules attracted to water
Hydrophobic
“water-fearing” - molecules repel water
Phospholipid
type of lipid that forms the cell membrane
Cell membrane
phospholipid bilayer, with embedded proteins that forms the boundary of all cells
Cell
basic structural unit of living organisms
Nucleotide
building block of a nucleic acid
Amino Acid
building block of a protein
Monosaccharide
the building block, or monomer, of a carbohydrate
Polymer
molecule made of up individual subunits, called monomers, linked together in a chain
monomer
one chemical subunit of a polymer
macromolecules
very large organic molecules that make up living organisms: they include carbohydrates, proteins, and nucleic acids
Lipids
organic molecules made up of linked nucleotide subunits
ex. DNA an RNA
Protein
organic molecule made up of linked amino acid subunits
Carbohydrate
an organic molecule made up of one or more sugars
Inorganic
a molecule that lacks a carbon-based backbone and C-H bonds
Organic
describes a molecule with a carbon-based backbone and at least one C-H bond
Covalent Bonds
a strong interaction resulting from the sharing of a pair of electrons between two atoms
Molecule
atoms linked by covalent bonds
Atomic Number
number of protons in an atom, determines the atom’s identity
Neutron
electronically unchanged subatomic particle in the nucleus of an atom
Nucleus
the dense core of an atom
