The Chemistry of Life: Atoms to Water

Flashcards on the Chemistry of Life covering atoms and water, including elements, atomic structure, isotopes, ions, chemical bonds, electronegativity, chemical reactions, and the properties of water.

Element

A substance that cannot be broken down by chemical means into other substances.

Atom

The smallest unit of matter that can be divided and still retain its chemical qualities.

Protons

Positively charged subatomic particles located in the nucleus of an atom.

Neutrons

Neutral subatomic particles located in the nucleus of an atom.

Electrons

Negatively charged subatomic particles that surround the atomic nucleus.

Atomic Number

The number of protons in each atom of an element.

Mass Number

The total number of protons and neutrons in an atom's nucleus.

Isotopes

Different forms of the same element with varying numbers of neutrons.

Atomic Mass

The average mass of all isotopes of an element.

Ions

Atoms or molecules that have gained or lost electrons, resulting in an electrical charge.

Anions

Ions with a negative charge, having more electrons than protons.

Cations

Ions with a positive charge, having fewer electrons than protons.

Valence Shell

The outermost electron shell of an atom, important for bonding.

Covalent Bond

A chemical bond formed when atoms share electrons.

Double Bond

A covalent bond where four electrons are shared between two atoms.

Electronegativity

A measure of an atom's ability to attract electrons in a chemical bond.

Chemical Formula

A notation that uses chemical symbols to indicate the elements and their ratios in a compound (e.g., H2O, NaCl).

Chemical Equation

A representation of a chemical reaction using chemical formulas and symbols (e.g., 2H + O → H2O).

Reactants

Substances that start a chemical reaction, written to the left of the arrow in a chemical equation.

Products

Substances that are formed as a result of a chemical reaction, written to the right of the arrow in a chemical equation.

Solvent

The liquid in a solution that does the dissolving or is in greatest abundance.

Solute

The substance that is dissolved in a solvent, usually the solid or the liquid in least abundance.

Solution

The combined product of a solvent and solute.

Ionic Bond

A chemical bond resulting from the attraction between oppositely charged ions.

Polar Covalent Bond

A covalent bond in which electrons are unequally shared between atoms, leading to partial charges.

Hydrogen Bond

A weak bond between two molecules resulting from an electrostatic attraction between a proton in one molecule and an electronegative atom in the other.

Cohesion

The tendency of water molecules to stick to one another due to hydrogen bonds.

Adhesion

The property of water molecules forming hydrogen bonds with other molecules.

Hydrophilic

Describes substances that are 'water-loving' and dissolve easily in water.

Specific Heat

The amount of heat required to raise the temperature of a substance by a certain amount; water has a high specific heat.