Chemistry of Life-2

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts from the lecture on the chemistry of life, focusing on atoms, molecules, biological functions, and chemical reactions.

Atom

The smallest unit of matter, consisting of protons, neutrons, and electrons.

Proton

A positively charged particle found in an atom's nucleus.

Neutron

A neutral particle found in an atom's nucleus.

Electron

A negatively charged particle that orbits the nucleus of an atom.

Atomic number

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

Ion

A charged particle that has gained or lost one or more electrons.

Cation

A positively charged ion formed by the loss of electrons.

Anion

A negatively charged ion formed by the gain of electrons.

Isotope

Variants of an element that have the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons.

Organic molecules

Compounds that contain carbon and are found in living organisms.

Inorganic molecules

Compounds that do not primarily consist of carbon-hydrogen bonds.

Acid

A substance that donates protons (H+) in a solution.

Base

A substance that accepts protons or donates hydroxide ions (OH-) in a solution.

pH scale

A logarithmic scale used to measure the acidity or alkalinity of a solution.

Carbohydrates

Organic compounds made of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen; used primarily for energy.

Lipids

Hydrophobic organic molecules, which include fats and oils, primarily used for long-term energy storage.

Proteins

Polymers made of amino acids that serve various functions in the body, including structure, transport, and catalysis.

Nucleic acids

Biological molecules that store and transmit genetic information, such as DNA and RNA.

Enzyme

A protein that acts as a biological catalyst to speed up chemical reactions.

Cofactor

A non-protein molecule that assists enzymes in catalyzing reactions.

Metabolism

The sum of all chemical processes that occur within a living organism, including catabolism and anabolism.

Hydrolysis

A chemical reaction that involves the breaking down of a compound due to the reaction with water.

Dehydration synthesis

A chemical reaction that builds up molecules by removing water.

Functional groups

Specific groups of atoms within molecules that determine the characteristics and chemical reactivity of the molecules.

Calcium (Ca)

A mineral that plays vital roles in human physiology, constituting about 1.5% of body weight.

Electrolytes

Ions in solution that conduct electric current and are essential for various biological functions.

Free radicals

Short-lived molecules with unpaired electrons that can cause cellular damage.

Antioxidants

Molecules that neutralize free radicals to protect cells from damage.

Polymer

A large molecule made up of repeating units called monomers.

Atom

The smallest unit of matter, consisting of protons, neutrons, and electrons.

Proton

A positively charged particle found in an atom's nucleus.

Neutron

A neutral particle found in an atom's nucleus.

Electron

A negatively charged particle that orbits the nucleus of an atom.

Atomic number

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

Ion

A charged particle that has gained or lost one or more electrons.

Cation

A positively charged ion formed by the loss of electrons.

Anion

A negatively charged ion formed by the gain of electrons.

Isotope

Variants of an element that have the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons.

Organic molecules

Compounds that contain carbon and are found in living organisms.

Inorganic molecules

Compounds that do not primarily consist of carbon-hydrogen bonds.

Acid

A substance that donates protons (H+) in a solution.

Base

A substance that accepts protons or donates hydroxide ions (OH-) in a solution.

pH scale

A logarithmic scale used to measure the acidity or alkalinity of a solution.

Carbohydrates

Organic compounds made of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen; used primarily for energy.

Lipids

Hydrophobic organic molecules, which include fats and oils, primarily used for long-term energy storage.

Proteins

Polymers made of amino acids that serve various functions in the body, including structure, transport, and catalysis.

Nucleic acids

Biological molecules that store and transmit genetic information, such as DNA and RNA.

Enzyme

A protein that acts as a biological catalyst to speed up chemical reactions.

Cofactor

A non-protein molecule that assists enzymes in catalyzing reactions.

Metabolism

The sum of all chemical processes that occur within a living organism, including catabolism and anabolism.

Hydrolysis

A chemical reaction that involves the breaking down of a compound due to the reaction with water.

Dehydration synthesis

A chemical reaction that builds up molecules by removing water.

Functional groups

Specific groups of atoms within molecules that determine the characteristics and chemical reactivity of the molecules.

Calcium (Ca)

A mineral that plays vital roles in human physiology, constituting about 1.5% of body weight.

Electrolytes

Ions in solution that conduct electric current and are essential for various biological functions.

Free radicals

Short-lived molecules with unpaired electrons that can cause cellular damage.

Antioxidants

Molecules that neutralize free radicals to protect cells from damage.

Polymer

A large molecule made up of repeating units called monomers.