Ch 2: Chemistry of Life Practice Flashcards

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering basic atomic structure, chemical bonding, water properties, pH, and the four major organic molecules based on Ch 2: Chemistry of Life.

Atoms

The building blocks of all matter, composed of protons, neutrons, and electrons.

Protons

Positively charged particles located in the nucleus.

Neutrons

Neutral particles located in the nucleus.

Electrons

Negatively charged particles found in clouds surrounding the nucleus.

Isotopes

Atoms that have the same number of protons but a different number of neutrons.

Covalent Bonds

Strong chemical bonds formed when atoms share a pair of electrons.

Nonpolar covalent bond

A bond where electrons are shared evenly and the bond is symmetrical, such as the $C-H$ bond.

Polar covalent bond

A bond where electrons are distributed unevenly, creating a polarity, such as the $O-H$ bond.

Ionic bond

A bond formed when electrons are transferred from one atom to another.

Hydrophilic

Molecules described as "water-loving" that readily dissolve in water.

Hydrophobic

Molecules described as "water-hating" that are non-polar and do not dissolve well in water.

Hydrogen bonding

A type of bond that occurs between partially positively charged hydrogen atoms and electronegative atoms.

pH

A measure of hydrogen ion concentration, calculated as $pH = -\log[H^+]$.

Acidic

A solution with a pH below $7$.

Neutral

A solution with a pH of exactly $7$.

Basic (alkaline)

A solution with a pH above $7$.

Normal blood pH

The physiological pH range for human blood, approximately $7.35-7.45$.

Acids

Substances that release hydrogen ions.

Bases

Substances that remove hydrogen ions.

Buffers

Substances that help stabilize pH and maintain homeostasis.

Organic compounds

Compounds consisting of carbon and hydrogen atoms bound together by covalent bonds.

Inorganic compounds

Compounds that mostly do not contain carbon, such as water.

Monosaccharides

Simple sugars that serve as the building blocks for carbohydrates.

Disaccharides

Carbohydrates formed by two monosaccharides joined together.

Polysaccharides

Polymers made of many monosaccharides.

Saturated fatty acids

Linear carbon chains with no double bonds, meaning they are saturated with hydrogen.

Unsaturated fatty acids

Fatty acids that contain double bonds within their carbon chains.

Phospholipids

A type of lipid that makes up the structure of cell membranes.

Proteins

Polymers of amino acids where the shape is essential for function, characterized by four levels of structure: primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary.

Nucleic Acids

Polymers of nucleotides, namely DNA and RNA.

DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid)

A double helix molecule held together by hydrogen bonds with complementary base pairing ($A-T$ and $C-G$) that encodes the instructions for life.

Gene

A section of DNA that codes for a specific protein.

RNA (Ribonucleic Acid)

A single-stranded molecule with a ribose sugar base and $A-U/G-C$ base pairing.

Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP)

The main energy currency of the cell, composed of adenine, ribose, and three negatively charged phosphate groups.

Enzymes

Proteins that speed up chemical reactions by decreasing the amount of energy needed without being consumed or altered.