Chapter 2- The Chemical Context of Life Flashcards
half-life
the amount of time it takes for 50% of a sample of a radioactive isotope to decay.
van der Waals interactions
Weak attractions between molecules or parts of molecules that result from transient local partial charges.
anion
negatively charged ion
reactant
the starting material in a chemical reaction
chemical reaction
the making and breaking of chemical bonds, leading to changes in the composition of matter
chemical bond
an attraction between two atoms, resulting from a sharing of outer-shell electrons or the presence of opposite charges on the atoms. The bonded atoms gain complete outer shells.
compound
a substance consisting of two or more different elements combined in a fixed ratio.
ionic compound
a compound resulting from the formation of an ionic bond; also called a salt
cation
positively charged ion
chemical equilibrium
In a chemical reaction, the state in which the rate of the forward reaction equals the rate of the reverse reaction, so that the relative concentrations of the reactants and products do not change with time.
radioactive isotope
an isotope that is unstable; the nucleus decays spontaneously, giving off detectable particles and energy.
Molar Solutions
1 mol
___________ = 1 MOLAR (M) in concentration
1 liter of water
Brownian Motion
Molecules always moving.
ice
Stabilizes a lattice (molecules are further apart- ALL the H bonds are created)
cohesion
molecules interacting with the same molecules