Chemistry of Life Flashcards
1
Q
atom
A
- the basic unit of matter
2
Q
nucleus
A
- the center of an atom where strong forces bind protons and neutrons together
3
Q
electron
A
- negatively charged particle in an atom. 1/1840 the mass of a proton
4
Q
element
A
- the pure substance that consists entirely of one type of atom
5
Q
isotope
A
- atoms of the same element that differ in the number of neutrons they contain
6
Q
compound
A
- a substance formed by the chemical combination of two or more elements in definite proportions
7
Q
ionic bond
A
- bond formed when one or more electrons are transferred from one atom to another
8
Q
ion
A
- positively and negatively charged atoms
9
Q
covalent bond
A
- bond formed when atoms share electrons (instead of transferring them)
10
Q
molecule
A
- the structure that results when atoms are joined together by covalent bonds
11
Q
Van der Waals forces
A
- the slight attraction between molecules when they are close together (weak)
12
Q
hydrogen bond
A
- the attraction between a hydrogen atom with a partial positive charge and another atom with a partial negative charge
13
Q
cohesion
A
- attraction between molecules of the same substance
14
Q
adhesion
A
- attraction between molecules of different substances
15
Q
mixture
A
- a material composed of two or more elements or compounds that are physically mixed together but not chemically combined
16
Q
solution
A
- type of mixture on which the ions and all of the components are evenly distributed
17
Q
solute
A
- the substance that is dissolved into a solution
18
Q
solvent
A
- the dissolving substance in a solution
19
Q
universal solvent
A
- a solvent that can dissolve more solvents than any other solvents; WATER
20
Q
suspension
A
- mixture of water and non-dissolved material
21
Q
pH Scale
A
- scale with values 0 to 14, used to measure the concentration of H+ ions in a solution. 0 to 7 is acidic. pH 7 is neutral. 7 to 14 is basic.
22
Q
acid
A
- compound that forms H+ hydrogen ions in a solution with a pH of less than 7
23
Q
base
A
- compound that produces hydroxide OH in a solution with a pH of more than 7
24
Q
buffer
A
- compound that prevents sharp, sudden changes in pH
25
Q
monomer
A
- small chemical unit that makes up a polymer
26
Q
polymer
A
- molecule composed of many monomers, makes up macromolecules
27
Q
Carbohydrate
A
- compound made of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms; types of nutrients that are the major sources of energy to the body
28
Q
Lipid
A
- macromolecule made mostly from carbon and hydrogen atoms; includes fats, oils, and waxes
29
Q
nucleotide
A
- subunit of which nucleic acids are composed; 5 - carbon sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base
30
Q
nucleic acid
A
- macromolecule that contains hydrogen, oxygen, carbon, and phosphorus
31
Q
Protein
A
- macromolecule containing carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen; needed by body for growth and repair, structure and support
32
Q
amino acid
A
- compounds with an amino group on one end and that’s carboxylic group on the other end
33
Q
chemical reaction
A
- process that changes or transforms one set of chemicals into another set of chemicals
34
Q
reactant
A
- elements or compounds that enter into a chemical reaction
35
Q
product
A
- elements or compounds produced by chemical reactions
36
Q
activation energy
A
- okay energy input that is needed for a reaction to begin
37
Q
catalyst
A
- and Huckleberry substance that speeds up the rate of a chemical reaction
38
Q
enzyme
A
- protein catalyst that speeds up the rate of specific biological reactions
39
Q
substrate
A
- reactant of an enzyme-catalyzed reaction
