Chemistry Terms Review Flashcards
What is metabolism
The collective name for all the chemical reactions that occur inside the cell
What is an atom
The smallest unit of matter involved in chemical reactions
What is the nucleus
The small, dense core composed of protons and neutrons that is found at the centre of an atom
What are protons
Positively charged subatomic particle, found in the nuclei of an atom. The number of protons in an atom’s nucleus determines the identity of the atom
What are neutrons
Uncharged subatomic particles, found in the nuclei of most atoms. The particles have about the same mass as protons.
What are electrons
Negatively charged subatomic particle, found outside the nucleus of an atom in an energy level
What is an element
Substance that cannot be broken down into simpler substances by chemical means
What are isotopes
Atoms of the same element that have different numbers of neutrons in their nuclei
What is a valence shell
The outermost energy level of an atom
What are valence electrons
The electrons in the outermost occupied shell, or energy level, of an atom in its lowest energy state; valence electrons dictate the chemical properties of the element
What is a covalent bond
Chemical bond formed by the sharing of electrons between two atoms
What is a ionic bond
Chemical bond formed by the transfer of electrons between atoms and the attraction between the oppositely charged ions that result
What is an ion
Charged particle formed when an atoms losses or gains electrons, so that the atoms does not have an equal number of protons or electrons
What is electronegativity
Measure of the relative abilities of atoms to attract electrons
What is a non-polar covalent bond
Chemical bond in which electrons are shared equally between two bonded atoms with the same electronegativity
What is a polar covalent bond
Chemical bond in which electrons are shared unequally between two bonded atoms with different electronegativities
What is a polar molecule
Molecule that has an unequal distribution of charge and net dipole, as a result of the polar bonds within the molecule and the shape of the molecule
What are hydrogen bonds
Weak attractions between polar molecules that contain hydrogen atoms bonded to the more electronegative atoms oxygen, nitrogen, or fluorine
what is hydrophilic
“Water-loving”; describes molecules that interact with water
What is hydrophobic
“Water-hating”; describes molecules that do not interact with water
What is organic
Term generally used to describe substances made up of carbon based molecules, such as carbohydrates and proteins
What is inorganic
Term generally used to describe substances that do not contain carbon, such as water and sodium chloride
What are macromolecules
Large molecules that are often made of distinct smaller units
What are monomers
Small repeating units that join together to make up polymers
