Words Flashcards
subatomic particles
Particles that are smaller than the atom.
valence electrons
The electrons are in the outermost shell of the atom and able to interact with other atoms to form chemical bonds
octet rule
Atoms gain, lose, or share electrons until their valence shells have 8 electrons
ion
carry a charge due to an unequal number of protons and electrons
electrolyte
A substance that dissolves in water into charged particles called ions
radioisotopes
an unstable isotope of an element, which undergoes radioactive decay.
biological half life
Time required for the body to eliminate half of the radioactive material or substances that has entered it
free radicals
Any molecular species capable of independent existence that contains an unpaired electron in an atomic orbital.
protein
polymer consisting of amino acids linked by peptide bonds
lipid
A fatty substance that does not dissolve in water
carbohydrates
a biological compound containing carbon,hydrogen, and oxygen that is an important source of food and energy
nucleic acids
Building blocks of living organisms
electronegative
a measure of an atoms ability to attract shared electrons to itself
hydrogen bond
Attraction between a slightly positive hydrogen atom and a slightly negative atom.
Buffers
Solutions that resist changes in pH
