Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

Biology > Chapter 2- The Chemistry of Life > Flashcards

Chapter 2- The Chemistry of Life Flashcards

1
Q

What are the subatomic particles that make up atoms?

A

protons, neutrons, and electrons

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What are the main types of chemical bonds?

A

covalent and ionic bonds

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What is the basic unit of matter?

A

atom

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What is at the center of the atom?

A

a nucleus that contains protons and neutrons that are bind together by strong forces

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What is an electron?

A

a negatively charged particle (-) with 1/1840 the mass of a proton; constantly in motion, surrounding the nucleus; attracted to the positively charged nucleus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is a proton?

A

positively charged particles (+)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is a neutron?

A

particles that carry no charge

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Why are all atoms neutral?

A

because there is an equal number of protons and electrons

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What is a chemical element?

A

a pure substance that consists entirely of one type of atom

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What are isotopes?

A

atoms of the same element that differ in the number of neutrons they contain

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What is the atomic number?

A

the number of protons in an element

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What is the atomic mass?

A

of protons + # of neutrons

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What is a chemical compound?

A

a substance formed by the chemical combination of 2 or more elements in definite proportions (NaCl)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What is an ionic bond?

A

one or more electrons are transferred from one atom to another

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What are ions?

A

positively or negatively charged atoms

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What is a covalent bond?

A

when electrons are shared between atoms (water)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What are van der Waals forces?

A

when molecules are together, a slight attraction can develop between the oppositely charged regions of nearby molecules; not as strong as ionic or covalent bonds

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Why is a water molecule polar?

A

because there is an uneven distribution of electrons between the oxygen and hydrogen atoms

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What do acidic solutions have more of than water?

A

concentration of H+ ions

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What are the pH values for acidic solutions?

A

0<7

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

What do basic solutions have less of than water?

A

concentration of H+ ions

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

What are the pH values of basic solutions?

A

7<14

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

What happens to water when it freezes?

A

it expands making them less dense

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

What is cohesion?

A

an attraction between molecules of the same substance

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
What is adhesion?
an attraction between molecules of different substances
26
What is a mixture?
a material composed of 2 or more elements or compounds that are PHYSICALLY mixed together but not chemically combined
27
What is a solution?
A mixture of 2 or more substances in which all substances are evenly distributed
28
What is a solute?
the solid substance being dissolved
29
What is a solvent?
the liquid substance that dissolves the solute
30
What is a suspension?
mixture of water and non-dissolved material (blood & orange juice)
31
What is the pH scale?
a measurement system that indicates the concentration of H+ ions in a solution
32
What are buffers?
weak acids or bases that can react with strong acids and bases to prevent sharp, sudden changes in pH
33
What are the 4 organic compounds found in living things?
carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids, and proteins
34
What do living things use carbohydrates for?
Their main source of energy; some use it for structural purposes
35
What are lipids used for?
to store energy; some are important parts of biological membranes and waterproof coverings
36
What do nucleic acids do?
store and transmit hereditary, or genetic information
37
What do proteins do?
- control rate of reactions - regulate cell processes - build tissues (bone and muscle) - transport materials - help fight disease
38
What are macromolecules?
giant molecules
39
What is polymerization?
the process where large compounds are built by joining smaller ones together
40
What are monomers and polymers?
Monomers are the smaller units that join together to form polymers
41
What are carbohydrates?
compounds made up of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms (1:2:1)
42
What are monosaccharides? List some examples.
single sugar molecules; ex. glucose, galactose, and fructose
43
What are polysaccharides? Give examples.
large macromolecules formed from monosaccharides; ex. glycogen (animal starch) and cellulose
44
What are lipids? What are its common categories?
made mostly from carbon and hydrogen atoms; it is not soluble; common categories: fats, oils, and waxes
45
What does it mean when a fatty acid is unsaturated?
there is at least one carbon-carbon double bond
46
What does it mean when a fatty acid is polyunsaturated?
fatty acids that contain more than one carbon double bond
47
What are nucleic acids?
Macromolecules containing hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, carbon, and phosphorous.
48
What are nucleotides? What are their three parts?
monomers of nucleic acids; a 5-carbon sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogen base
49
What are the two kinds of nucleic acids?
ribonucleic acid (RNA) and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)
50
What are proteins?
macromolecules that contain nitrogen, carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen; polymers of amino acids; most diverse of macromolecules b/c of shape and arrangement
51
Where are the instructions for the arrangements of proteins found?
DNA
52
What is a chemical reaction?
a process that changes, or transforms, one set of chemicals into another; mass and energy are conserved
53
What are reactants?
elements or compounds that enter into a chemical reaction
54
What are products?
the elements or compounds produced by a chemical reaction
55
What is activation energy?
the energy that is needed to get a reaction started
56
What is a catalyst?
a substance that speeds up the rate of a chemical reaction; they work by lowering a reaction's activation energy
57
What are enzymes?
proteins that act as biological catalysts; very specific
58
What are substrates?
reactants of enzyme-catalyzed reactions
59
Chemical reactions always involve changes in what?
in the chemical bonds that join atoms in compounds
60
How do chemical reactions that release energy occur? (exothermic)
spontaneously-natural & uninhibited manner
61
How will a chemical reaction that absorb energy (endothermic) occur?
With a source of energy (most organisms use endothermic reactions since they need a source of energy )
62
What are active sites?
sites in enzymes where reactants (substrates) can bind to

Biology (17 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions