BIOL2710 A&P Chapter 2: The Chemistry of Life

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering basic chemistry, atomic structure, bonding, water properties, pH, and organic macromolecules based on the A&P Chapter 2 worksheet.

Elements

The simplest type of Matter.

Six primary elements of living organisms

C, H, N O, P, S.

Atom

The smallest unit of an element.

Proton

A subatomic particle with a positive charge located in the nucleus.

Neutron

A subatomic particle with a neutral charge located in the nucleus.

Electron

A subatomic particle with a negative charge found in regions called the electron cloud.

Atomic number

The number of protons in a nucleus.

Mass number

The sum of protons and neutrons.

Valence electrons

The outermost electrons that determine an atom's reactivity.

First electron shell

The shell immediately surrounding the nucleus which can hold a maximum of $2$ electrons.

Second electron shell

The electron shell that can accommodate up to $8$ electrons.

Valence shell

The outermost electron shell of an atom.

Octet rule (rule of eights)

The principle that atoms are most stable with an outer shell filled with $8$ electrons.

Covalent bond

A chemical bond characterized by the sharing of electrons.

Ionic bond

A bond formed by the attraction of charges between ions.

Hydrogen bond

A weak attraction between molecules.

Polar covalent bond

A type of bond where electrons are shared unequally.

Nonpolar covalent bond

A type of bond where electrons are shared equally.

Water

A polar molecule that stabilizes internal temperature and prevents rapid temperature changes.

pH

A measure of the concentration of free hydrogen ions ($H^+$).

Acid

Any substance that increases hydrogen ion ($H^+$) concentration; also known as a proton donor.

Base

Any substance that decreases hydrogen ion ($H^+$) concentration; also known as a proton acceptor.

Buffer

A chemical that helps maintain a relatively constant pH of solutions.

Reactants

The starting materials in a chemical reaction.

Products

The result of electron transfer in a chemical reaction.

Synthesis reaction

A reaction where two or more smaller molecules combine to form a larger one.

Decomposition reaction

A reaction where a large molecule separates into smaller products.

Macromolecules

The four types of molecules that form cells: Carbohydrates, Lipids, Proteins, and Nucleic acids.

Monosaccharide

The building blocks (monomers) of carbohydrates.

Amino acids

The building blocks of proteins.

Nucleotides

The building blocks of nucleic acids.

Peptide bonds

The special name for the covalent bond that joins protein monomers together.

Glycogen

The storage carbohydrate (polysaccharide) of animal cells.

Phospholipid

A key component of the plasma membrane that forms a bilayer in water.

Cholesterol

The molecule that serves as the basis for all steroids formed in the body.

Hydrophilic heads

The part of a phospholipid that faces the water in a bilayer.

Hydrophobic tails

The part of a phospholipid that faces away from the water in a bilayer.