BIO106 Week2 5-15 lecture Ch2

Flashcards from lecture notes on the chemical basis of life, covering atoms, molecules, compounds, chemical bonds, pH, and organic/inorganic substances.

What is an atom?

The smallest unit of a particle or matter.

What is matter?

Everything that takes up space and has mass.

What is mass?

The amount of matter present in a body.

What is weight?

The heaviness felt by a body due to gravitational pull on its mass.

What is Chemistry?

A branch of science concerned with the composition, properties, and interactions of matter.

What is Biochemistry?

A branch of chemistry focusing on organic compounds and physiological processes within the body.

What is the nucleus of an atom?

Central part of an atom containing protons and neutrons.

What are protons?

Positively charged subatomic particles found in the nucleus.

What are neutrons?

Subatomic particles with no charge found in the nucleus.

What are electrons?

Negatively charged subatomic particles that revolve around the nucleus in specific energy levels (cells).

What is atomic number (Z)?

Total number of protons present in the nucleus of an atom.

What is mass number?

The sum of the number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus of an atom.

What are isotopes?

Atoms of the same element having the same atomic number but different atomic mass numbers (different number of neutrons).

What is a molecule?

A particle formed by the combination of two or more atoms.

What are compounds?

Particles formed when two or more atoms of different elements chemically combine.

What is a covalent bond?

A bond formed between two atoms by sharing electrons.

What is an ionic bond?

A bond where one atom pulls electrons away from another atom.

What are electrolytes?

Substances that release ions when dissolved in water.

What are acids?

Electrolytes that dissociate to release hydrogen ions (H+) when in water.

What are bases?

Substances that release ions that can combine with hydrogen ions (H+).

What are salts?

Electrolytes formed from the reaction between an acid and a base.

What is the pH scale?

A scale used to measure the concentration of hydrogen ions (H+) in a solution.

What is acidemia?

A condition where the blood pH falls below the normal range (7.35-7.45), indicating increased acidity.

What is alkalemia?

A condition where the blood pH increases beyond the normal range (7.35-7.45), indicating increased alkalinity.

What are organic molecules?

Molecules that have an abundance of carbon and hydrogen atoms.

What are inorganic molecules?

Molecules that generally do not have carbon and hydrogen in abundance.

What is water?

Most abundant compound in the body; acts as a carrier, absorbs and transports heat.

What is oxygen?

Important for cellular respiration.

What is carbon dioxide?

A waste material produced from metabolic activity.

What are inorganic salts?

Necessary ions that conduct metabolic activities and maintain water concentration, pH, and nerve/muscle function.

What are carbohydrates?

Condensed form of sugar containing carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen.

What are monosaccharides?

Carbohydrates with a single group of sugar.

What are disaccharides?

Carbohydrates with two groups of sugar.

What are polysaccharides?

Complex carbohydrates containing multiple groups of sugars.

What are lipids?

Fats that are insoluble in water; include triglycerides, phospholipids, and steroids.

What are triglycerides?

Used for cellular energy.

What are phospholipids?

Make up the cell membrane.

What are steroids?

Used in the synthesis of adrenal and sex hormones.

What are proteins?

Structural materials and energy sources made of amino acids; function as hormones, enzymes, and antibodies.

What are nucleic acids?

Carry genetic information (DNA) and are responsible for protein synthesis (RNA).

What is DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)?

Carries genetic information.

What is RNA (ribonucleic acid)?

Responsible for protein synthesis.