Chemistry of Life: Atoms, Bonds, and Macromolecules

Matter

Anything occupying space and having mass.

States of Matter

Three physical forms: solid, liquid, gas.

Elements

Substances that cannot be chemically broken down.

Molecules

Substances of two or more elements combined.

Atoms

Smallest unit retaining chemical properties of an element.

Atomic Structure

Nucleus contains protons and neutrons; electrons orbit.

Protons

Positively charged particles in an atom's nucleus.

Neutrons

Neutral particles in an atom's nucleus.

Electrons

Negatively charged particles in electron shells.

Valence Electrons

Outer electrons determining chemical behavior.

Atomic Number

Number of protons defining an element.

Mass Number

Sum of protons and neutrons in nucleus.

Isotopes

Variants of elements with different neutron counts.

Carbon-14

Isotope used for dating up to 50,000 years.

Essential Elements of Life

25 elements found in the human body.

Top 10 Elements

Oxygen, Carbon, Hydrogen, Nitrogen, Calcium, Phosphorus, Potassium, Sulfur, Sodium, Chlorine.

Covalent Bonds

Atoms share pairs of valence electrons.

Ionic Bonds

Attraction between oppositely charged ions.

Hydrogen Bonds

Weak attraction between neighboring charged molecules.

Monosaccharides

Single sugar molecules, simplest carbohydrates.

Disaccharides

Two monosaccharides linked together.

Polysaccharides

More than two monosaccharides linked.

Triglycerides

Fat molecules with glycerol and fatty acid tails.

Phospholipids

Molecules forming cellular membranes.

Proteins

Large molecules made of amino acid chains.

Amino Acids

Building blocks of proteins, 20 types exist.

Enzymes

Proteins that catalyze biochemical reactions.

Competitive Inhibition

Inhibitor competes with substrate for active site.

Non-competitive Inhibition

Inhibitor alters enzyme shape, preventing substrate binding.