AP Bio

What are elements in chemistry?

Substances that cannot be broken down into simpler substances by chemical means.

Which four elements are primarily used to build biological molecules?

Oxygen (O), carbon (C), hydrogen (H), and nitrogen (N).

What are trace elements?

Elements required by an organism only in very small quantities, such as iron (Fe), iodine (I), and copper (Cu).

What are the three types of subatomic particles?

Protons (positively charged), neutrons (uncharged), and electrons (negatively charged).

What is an ionic bond?

A bond formed between two atoms when one or more electrons are transferred from one atom to the other.

What property of water is responsible for its cohesion?

Hydrogen bonds between water molecules.

What is the pH scale used to measure?

The acidity or alkalinity of a solution.

What are the four classes of organic compounds central to life?

Carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids.

What structure do carbohydrates have in terms of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen ratios?

Approximately 1:2:1 ratio.

What is a monosaccharide?

A simple sugar that serves as an energy source for cells.

What is a disaccharide?

Two monosaccharides joined together, typically formed by glycosidic linkage.

What role do proteins play in biological organisms?

They are essential for structure, function, and regulation of tissues and organs.

What is a polypeptide?

A chain of amino acids joined together that can fold into a functional protein.

What components make up lipids?

Carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms.

What is the function of phospholipids?

They form the structural basis of cell membranes.

What are nucleic acids?

Molecules made of nucleotides that store and transmit genetic information.

What role does the cell membrane play?

It regulates the movement of substances into and out of the cell and is semipermeable.

What are mutations?

Errors in the genetic code that can lead to changes in genes.

What is natural selection?

The process by which organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring.