Biochemistry Lecture Notes

Flashcards to help review key vocabulary and concepts from the Biochemistry lecture.

Matter

Anything that has mass and volume (takes up space).

States of Matter

The different forms that matter can take: solids, liquids, and gases.

Atoms

The smallest particle of matter that contains specific characteristics.

Elements

Different types of atoms found in the Periodic Table, such as oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon.

Nucleus

The core of an atom made up of protons and neutrons.

Electrons

Negatively charged particles that orbit the nucleus of an atom in energy levels.

Neutral Atom

An atom where the number of protons equals the number of electrons.

Ions

Atoms with a charge resulting from the loss or gain of electrons.

Energy Levels

Regions where electrons are located around the nucleus of an atom.

Isotopes

Atoms of the same element that have different numbers of neutrons.

Radioactive Isotopes

Unstable nuclei that break down over time, emitting radiation.

Chemical Compounds

The chemical combination of two or more elements in definite proportions.

Ionic Bonds

Bonds where one or more electrons are transferred from one atom to another.

Covalent Bonds

Bonds where one or more electrons are shared between atoms in a compound.

Molecule

The smallest particle of a covalent compound that is neutral.

Chemical Formula

A notation that indicates the elements and their proportions in a compound.

Carbon Unique

Carbon's ability to form four covalent bonds and create diverse structures like chains and rings.

Conservation of Matter

A principle stating that atoms cannot be created or destroyed in a chemical reaction.

Balanced Equation

An equation representing a chemical reaction where the number of atoms is the same on both sides.