Exam 1 Flashcards
(204 cards)
element
a substance that cannot be broken down to other substances by chemical reactions; elements are the basic building blocks or the “legos”
What are life’s major elements?
oxygen, carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen; CHON
oxygen
required for cellular respiration; present in most organic compounds; component of water
carbon
forms the backbone of organic molecules; each carbon atom can form four bonds with other atoms
hydrogen
present in most organic compounds; component of water; hydrogen ion (H+) is involved in some energy transfers
nitrogen
component of proteins and nucleic acids; component of chlorophyll in plants
calcium
structural component of bones and teeth; calcium ion (Ca^2+) is important in muscle contraction, conduction of nerve impulses, and blood clotting; associated with plant cell wall
phosphorus
component of nucleic acids and phospholipids in membranes; important in energy transfer reactions; structural component of bone
potassium
potassium ion (K+) is a principle positive ion (cation) in interstitial (tissue) fluid of animals; important in fluid balance; important in nerve function; affects muscle contraction; controls opening of stomata in plants
sulfur
component of most proteins
sodium
sodium ion (Na+) is a principle positive ion (cation) in interstitial (tissue) fluid of animals; important in fluid balance; essential for conduction of nerve impulses; important in photosynthesis in plants
magnesium
needed in blood and other tissues of animals; activates many enzymes; component of chlorophyll in plants
chlorine
chloride ion (Cl-) is principal negative ion (anion) in interstitial (tissue) fluid of animals; important in water balance; essential for photosynthesis
iron
component of hemoglobin in animals; activates certain enzymes
atom
an atom is the smallest unit of matter that still retains the properties of an element; smallest form of organization
subatomical particles
atoms consist of even smaller units called subatomical particles; subatomic particles=protons, neutrons, and electrons
electron
each electron has one unit of negative charge; a subatomic particle; mass=about 1/1800 that of a neutron or proton
proton
each proton has one unit of positive charge; a subatomic particle; mass=about 1 dalton; found in the atomic nucleus
neutron
electrically neutral subatomic particles; mass=about 1 dalton; found in the atomic nucleus
atomic number
number of protons in an element; unless otherwise indicated, atoms have equal numbers of protons and electrons
mass number
the sum of the number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus of an atom; protons + neutrons = mass number
atomic weight
a measure of an atom’s mass; can be approximated by the mass number
isotope
different form of a particular element–the number of neutrons is different; isotopes of an element have the same number of protons and electrons but vary in the number of neutrons
energy levels/electron shells
the different states of potential energy that the electrons of an atom can have; the first shell, closest to the nucleus, has the lowest potential energy; electrons in outer shells have more potential energy; electrons can only change their position if they absorb or release a quantity of energy that matches the difference in potential energy between the two levels