Basic Chemistry and Biological Macromolecules

Flashcards covering key concepts in basic chemistry and biological macromolecules.

Atom

A basic unit of matter, made up of protons, neutrons, and electrons.

Proton

A subatomic particle within the nucleus that carries a positive charge.

Neutron

A subatomic particle found in the nucleus of an atom, having no charge.

Electron

A small particle with a negative charge found in atoms, usually orbiting around the nucleus.

Covalent bonds

Chemical bonds that involve the sharing of electron pairs between atoms.

Ionic bonds

Attractive forces between oppositely charged ions in a chemical compound.

Hydrogen bonds

Interactions between a hydrogen atom and an electronegative atom, typically involving high affinity for electrons.

Electronegativity

A measure of an atom's ability to attract shared electrons to itself.

Atomic number

The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom, which determines the element's identity.

Mass number

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

Electron shells

Areas around the nucleus where electrons are likely to be found, with specific maximum numbers of electrons.