Unit 2: Chemistry of Life Flashcards
Atom

Tiny particle that is the fundamental building block of all substances.
Proton

Particle found in the nucleus of an atom. Has positive charge.
Neutron

Particle in the nucleus of an atom. Has no charge.
Electron

part of atom with a negative charge; orbits the nucleus.
Matter
Anything that takes up space and has mass.
Element
Substance that contains only 1 kind of atom and cannot be broken down to simpler substances.
Ion

Atom that has a positive or negative charge.
Molecule
Compound resulting from covalent bonding between atoms.
Covalent Bond
Bond between atoms where electrons are shared.
Ionic Bond

Bond formed by an attraction between atoms of opposite charges.
Hydrogen bond

Bond formed by an attraction between partially charged atoms and a hydrogen that is covalently bonded to another partially charged atom.
Organic Compound
Any compound that contains carbon bonded to at least one other atom, usually hydrogen.
Inorganic Compound
Compound without carbon-hydrogen bonds
Valence electrons
Electrons in an atom's outer layer. Electrons involved in bonding between atoms.
Polarity or Polar Molecule

Molecule which has positive and negative regions resulting from unequal sharing of electrons in a polar covalent bond.
Cohesion

Attraction of molecules between the same substance. ex: water molecule attracted to other water molecule
Adhesion

Attraction between molecules of different substances.
ex: water
molecule attracted to molecules that make up spider web.
Solute

Substance that dissolves in a solvent.
Solvent

Substance in which something is dissolved.
Solution

Mixture of where solute is dissolved in a solvent.
Versatile Solvent or Universal Solvent

Water can dissolve most substances making it a versatile solvent. This is due to its polarity which attracts anything with a charge.
Surface tension
Force that hold molecules together on the surface of a liquid.
Specific Heat

The amount of heat per unit mass required to raise the temperature by
one degree Celsius.
Water has a high specific heat so it
takes lots of energy to raise the temperature - due to hydrogen bonds
in water.
Capillary Action

The ability of a liquid to flow in narrow spaces without the
assistance of, and in opposition to, external forces like gravity
(flows against gravity).
Occurs because water is sticky
- due to forces of adhesion and cohesion.
pH

Measures how acidic or basic a substance is. Ranges from 1-14 with 0 being most acidic and 14 being most basic.
Macromolecules
Large molecules. Macromolecules found in all living things: Carbohydrates, Lipids, Proteins, and Nucleic Acids.
Carbohydrates

Macromolecules that are energy storage molecules. Contains carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen.
Lipids

Macromolecules that are fats or oils (triglycerides), phospholipids, steroids, and waxes.
Proteins

Macromolecules made up of amino acids. Makes up many parts of your body.
Nucleic Acids

Macromolecules which are the genetic material - DNA and RNA.
Electronmagnetic
physical force that is responsible for interactions between charged particles.