chemistry for life Flashcards
atom
a single particle of an element, consisting of a positively charged nucleus surrounded by a cloud of negatively charged electrons
molecule
a group of two or more atoms held together by covalent bonds
compound
a molecule that contains two or more elements
intermolecular forces
the weaker bonds that form between molecules
ion
an atom that has gained or lost an electron, giving it a negative or positive charge
ionic bonding
the atoms involved in the reaction donate or receive electrons
covalent bonding
the atoms involved in the reaction share electrons
nitrate
anion needed in plants for the formation of amino acids and therefore proteins from the products of photosynthesis, and also for the formation of DNA
phosphate
anion need in all living organism including plants and animals in the formation of ATP and ADP as well as DNA and RNA
chloride
anion needed in nerve impulses and many secretory systems
hydrogen carbonate
anion needed for buffering the blood to prevent it from becoming too acidic
sodium
cation needed in nerve impulses and many secretory systems
calcium
cation needed for the formation of calcium pectate for the middle lamella between two cell walls in plants, an for bone formation and muscle contraction in animals
hydrogen
cation needed in cellular respiration and photosynthesis, and in numerous pumps and systems in organisms as well as pH balance
magnesium
cation needed for production of chlorophyll in plants
non-polar
when the charge in a molecule is evenly spread across it
polar
when one side of a molecule has a slight positive charge and the other side has a slight negative charge
hydrogen bond
a temporary bond between an oxygen on one molecule and a hydrogen on another molecule
cohesion
when water molecules ‘stick’ to each other via hydrogen bonding
adhesion
when water molecules ‘stick’ to a surface via hydrogen bonding
coolant
a liquid or gas that is used to remove heat from something
solute
a substance that dissolves in a solvent
solution
where a solute is dissolved in a solvent
solvent
a substance that other substances can dissolve in
hydrophilic
attracted to and mixed with water
hydrophobic
repels and does not mix with water
surface tension
the cohesive forces between water molecules lead to a resistance
specific heat capacity
the amount of energy needed to change the temperature of 1kg of the substance by 1 degrees
latent heat of evaporation
volume of energy needed to change a substance from a liquid to a vapour
