Chemistry of Life Vocab

Question 1

nucleus of an atom

Answer 1

part of an atom consisting of the protons and neutrons; center of the atom

Question 2

proton

Answer 2

A subatomic particle that has a positive charge and that is found in the nucleus of an atom

Question 3

electron

Answer 3

A subatomic particle that has a negative charge

Question 4

neutron

Answer 4

A subatomic particle that has no charge and that is found in the nucleus of an atom

Question 5

ionic bond

Answer 5

A chemical bond resulting from the attraction between oppositely charged ions.

Question 6

covalent bond

Answer 6

A chemical bond that involves sharing a pair of electrons between atoms in a molecule

Question 7

hydrogen bond

Answer 7

weak chemical bond formed by the attraction of positively charged hydrogen atoms to other negatively charged atoms

Question 8

pH scale

Answer 8

A number scale that measures the strength of acids or bases

Question 9

protein

Answer 9

An organic compound that is made of one or more chains of amino acids and that is a principal component of all cells

Question 10

nucleic acid

Answer 10

Biological macromolecule that stores and transfer genetic information

Question 11

lipid

Answer 11

Energy-rich organic compounds, such as fats, oils, and waxes, that are made of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen.

Question 12

carbohydrate

Answer 12

Class of organic compounds containing only carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen

Question 13

enzyme

Answer 13

A type of protein that speeds up a chemical reaction in a living thing

Question 14

cohesion

Answer 14

Attraction between molecules of the same substance

Question 15

adhesion

Answer 15

An attraction between molecules of different substances

Question 16

solution

Answer 16

A mixture that forms when one substance dissolves another.

Question 17

solute

Answer 17

A substance that is dissolved in a solution.

Question 18

solvent

Answer 18

A liquid substance capable of dissolving other substances

Question 19

acid

Answer 19

A substance that has a pH below 7

Question 20

base

Answer 20

A substance that has a pH above 7

Question 21

monomer

Answer 21

A simple compound whose molecules can join together to form polymers

Question 22

polymer

Answer 22

A long molecule consisting of many similar or identical monomers linked together.

Question 23

monosaccharide

Answer 23

A single sugar molecule such as glucose or fructose, the simplest type of sugar.

Question 24

polysaccharide

Answer 24

Carbohydrates that are made up of more than two monosaccharides

Question 25

amino acid

Answer 25

Building blocks of protein

Question 26

nucleotide

Answer 26

A building block of DNA and RNA, consisting of a five-carbon sugar covalently bonded to a nitrogenous base and a phosphate group.

Question 27

chemical reaction

Answer 27

a process in which one or more substances are changed into others

Question 28

reactant

Answer 28

A chemical substance that is present at the start of a chemical reaction

Question 29

product

Answer 29

A chemical substance formed as a result of a chemical reaction

Question 30

substrate

Answer 30

Reactant of an enzyme-catalyzed reaction.

Question 31

neutral substance

Answer 31

a substance with a pH of 7