Chemistry in Biology Flashcards
What is the simplest form of matter that has unique physical and chemical properties?
Element
Designated by one/two letter symbols.
What is the smallest portion of an element that retains the element’s chemical properties?
Atom
What charge do protons have?
Single (+) charge
What charge do neutrons have?
No charge
What charge do electrons have?
Single (-) charge
Where do protons and neutrons cluster in an atom?
Atomic nucleus
What orbits around the nucleus of an atom?
Electrons
What is the atomic number?
Number of protons in the nucleus
What is the periodic table?
A chart of the elements arranged by atomic number and chemical behavior
What is atomic mass?
Number of protons + neutrons
What are isotopes?
Atoms of the same element that differ in the number of neutrons in their nucleus
What are radioisotopes?
Atoms where the number of protons is very different from the number of neutrons, making the nucleus unstable
What do valence electrons determine?
Chemical properties of an atom
What is a molecule?
Chemical particle composed of two or more atoms united by a chemical bond
What is a compound?
Molecule composed of two or more different elements
What does a molecular formula identify?
Constituent elements and how many atoms of each are present
What does a structural formula identify?
Location of each atom with respect to one another in a molecule or compound
What is an ion?
Charged particle (atom or molecule) with unequal number of protons and electrons
What is ionization?
Transfer of electrons from one atom to another
What is an anion?
Particle that gains electron(s) (net negative charge)
What is a cation?
Particle that loses electron(s) (net positive charge)
What type of bonds are formed between ions with opposite charges?
Ionic Bond
What are chemical bonds?
Forces that hold atoms together within a molecule or attract one molecule to another
What are ionic bonds?
Electrons donated from one atom to another; very strong
What is a covalent bond?
Pair(s) of electrons shared between atoms
What is a nonpolar covalent bond?
Electrons shared equally (strongest bond)
What is a polar covalent bond?
Electrons shared unequally (spend more time near oxygen)
What are Van der Waals forces?
Weak, brief attractions between neutral atoms
What is a hydrogen bond?
A weak attraction between a slightly positive hydrogen atom in one molecule and a slightly negative oxygen or nitrogen atom in another
What is solvency in terms of water properties?
Ability to dissolve other chemicals
What is adhesion?
Tendency of one substance to cling to another
What is cohesion?
Tendency of like molecules to cling to each other
What is chemical reactivity?
Ability to participate in chemical reactions
What is dehydration synthesis?
Two or more smaller molecules combine to form a larger one while losing water
What is thermal stability in water due to?
Hydrogen bonds
What does hydrophilic mean?
Easily dissolve in water
What does hydrophobic mean?
Do not dissolve in water
What is hydrolysis?
Breaking of a bond in a molecule using water
