Chemistry: The Process of Life Flashcards
Acid
Acids are molecules that can split apart in water and release hydrogen ions (H+). A common example is hydrochloric acid (HCl). When HCl is added to water, it splits apart into H+ and Cl–, increasing the number of hydrogen ions in the water/HCl solution.
A solution that contains more hydrogen ions than hydroxide ions is acidic, and the pH of the solution is less than 7. If a molecule releases hydrogen ions in water, it’s an acid. The more hydrogen ions it releases, the stronger the acid, and the lower the pH value.
Adhesion
Adhesion may refer to the joining of two different substances due to attractive forces that hold them. For instance, cohesion causes water to form drops and adhesion keeps the water drops on the surfaces of leaves and flowers in place. The binding of a cell to another cell, or a cell to a surface, via specific cell adhesion molecules. Adhesion may also refer to the binding of a cell to another cell, such as a malarial protozoan cell (Plasmodium falciparum) binding to a liver cell via cell adhesion molecule called the circumsporozoite protein.
Anion
A negatively-charged ion.
Difference btw. an Anion and a Cation
Anion vs. Cation. Ions result from atoms or molecules that have gained or lost one or more valence electrons, giving them a positive or negative charge. Those with a negative charge are called anions and those with a positive charge are called cations.
Aqueous solution
An aqueous solution is any solution in which water (H2O) is the solvent.
Atom
An atom is the smallest unit of matter with unique chemical properties. Atoms are the chemical units of cell structure. They consist of a central nucleus with protons and neutrons and orbit(s) of electrons. A proton carries a +1 positive charge, while a neutron has no charge. Thus the nucleus has a net positive charge. Electrons carry a –1 negative charge and are consequently attracted to the positive nucleus. In general, the number of protons usually equals the number of electrons. Recall that atoms have unique (individual) chemical properties, and thus each type of atom is called a chemical element, or just element.
Clouds of electrons surround the nucleus. Electrons carry a negative charge but have no mass.
Atoms become ions when they gain or lose electrons. In other words, ions are essentially charged atoms. Positive (+) ions have more protons than electrons; negative (–) ions have more electrons than protons. Positive and negative charges attract one another, allowing atoms to form bonds.
Atomic Mass
Atomic weight refers to the number of protons and neutrons in an atom, measured in daltons.
Also Known As: Atomic Weight
Atomic number
Symbol Z in chemistry.
The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom and also its characteristic atomic number.
The atomic numbers of the known elements form a complete series (periodic table), from 1 (hydrogen) to 103 (lawrencium).
Base
Bases are molecules that can split apart in water and release hydroxide ions (OH–). The most common example is sodium hydroxide (NaOH). When NaOH is added to water, it splits apart into Na+ and OH–.
A solution that contains more hydroxide ions than hydrogen ions is basic, and its pH is higher than 7. Bases dissociate (break apart) into hydroxide ions (OH–) and a positive ion. The hydroxide ions can combine with H+ to create water. Because the hydrogen ions are used, the number of hydrogen ions in the solution decreases, making the solution less acidic and therefore more basic. So, the more hydroxide ions a molecule releases (or the more hydrogen ions it takes in), the more basic it is.
Buffer
Buffers keep solutions at a steady pH by combining with excess hydrogen (H+) or hydroxide (OH–) ions. Think of them as sponges for hydrogen and hydroxide ions. If a substance releases these ions into a buffered solution, the buffers will “soak up” the extra ions.
If something goes wrong with the buffer system and the pH drops too low, an organism can develop acidosis (meaning the blood becomes too acidic). If the reverse happens and the pH gets too high, an organism can develop alkalosis (meaning the blood becomes too basic).
Calorie
Kilocalorie: a measure of heat energy that is equal to the amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of one kilogram of water by one degree Centigrade at one atmospheric pressure.
Calories are used to describe the energy producing potential of food. A one gram calorie is equal to 4.1840 joules. Joule (which is an SI unit) is now more preferred over calorie (which is nonSI unit) for measuring heat energy.
Cation
A positively charged ion.
Strong acid
An acid that releases all of its hydrogen ions in solution.
Hydrochloric acid (HCl) is an excellent example of a strong acid.
Weak acid
An acid which does not completely ionize, or lose it’s hydrogen ions, in a solution.
Chemical bond
Chemical bonds are what occur when two or more atoms bind together.
Some of these bonds are between atoms of the same type, resulting in a pure element. Other chemical bonds occur between atoms of different types and result in molecules.
Once formed, most of these bonds cannot be broken down, except by chemical means.
Each atom has what is called a “valence shell.” This is the outermost track its electrons can take around its nucleus, its outer orbit. The electrons in this orbit are called “valence electrons.” These electrons interact to form chemical bonds.
There are four primary types of chemical bonds: Ionic, Covalent, Metallic, and Hydrogen.
Chemical equilibrium
The point at which the concentrations of reactants and products do not change with time. It appears as though the reaction has stopped but in fact the rates of the forward and reverse reactions are equal so reactants and products are being created at the same rate.
Chemical reaction
A process in which one or more substances (reactants) are chemically changed into one or more new substances (products). Chemical changes may involve motionof electrons in the forming and breaking of chemical bonds.
Common chemical reactions are isomerization, syntheses, chemical decomposition, substitution, acid-base reactions, redox reactions, combustions, polymerization, ionization, hydrolysis, etc.
Cohesion
This refers to the sticking together of alike molecules, such as water molecule being attracted to another water molecule.
Cohesion also causes water molecules to form drops.
Compound
A substance consisting of atoms or ions of two or more elements that are chemically bonded together,
e.g. carbon dioxide, a substance consisting of carbon and two oxygen atoms.
Covalent bond
Covalent bonds are formed when atoms share electrons in a covalent reaction.
When two oxygen atoms join together to form oxygen gas, they share two pairs of electrons with each other. Each shared pair of electrons is one covalent bond, so the two pairs of shared electrons in a molecule of oxygen gas have a double bond.
Covalent bonds are extremely important in biology because they hold together the backbones of all biological molecules.
Dalton
A unit of mass equal to 1/12 the mass of a carbon-12 atom.
Also Known As: atomic mass unit, amu.
Double bond
A double bond is a bond where two electron pairs are shared between two atoms.
Double bonds are drawn as two parallel lines in chemical structure diagrams.
Electron
Clouds of electrons surround the nucleus.
Electrons carry a negative charge but have no mass.
Electron shell
An electron shell is a set of atomic electrons grouped together by their quantum energy levels.
Electronegativity
Electronegativity is a measure of the tendency of an atom to attract a bonding pair of electrons.
No electronegativity difference between two atoms leads to a pure non-polar covalent bond.
A small electronegativity difference leads to a polar covalent bond.
A large electronegativity difference leads to an ionic bond.