The chemistry of life

Protons

Positively charged subatomic particles found in the nucleus of an atom.

Neutrons

Subatomic particles with no charge, found in the nucleus of an atom.

Electrons

Negatively charged subatomic particles that orbit the nucleus of an atom.

Ion

An atom that has gained or lost electrons, resulting in a positive or negative charge.

Isotope

Variants of an element that have the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons.

Electronegativity

A measure of how strongly an atom attracts electrons in a chemical bond.

Covalent Bonds

Strong bonds formed by the sharing of electrons between atoms.

Polar-Covalent Bonds

Bonds in which electrons are shared unequally between atoms due to differences in electronegativity.

Non-Polar Covalent Bonds

Bonds in which electrons are shared equally between atoms, leading to no charge separation.

Hydrogen Bonds

Weak bonds formed between a hydrogen atom covalently bonded to a more electronegative atom and another electronegative atom.

Cohesion

The attraction between molecules of the same substance, such as water molecules sticking together.

Adhesion

The attraction between molecules of different substances, such as water molecules adhering to glass.

Solvent

A substance that dissolves a solute, forming a solution.

Hydrophilic

Substances that are water-soluble or attracted to water.

Hydrophobic

Substances that do not mix with water or are repelled by water.

Density of Ice

Ice is less dense than liquid water, allowing it to float.

Specific Heat

The amount of heat required to change the temperature of a substance, water has a high specific heat.

Heat of Vaporization

The amount of energy required to convert water from liquid to gas, a process that cools organisms.

pH Scale

A scale that measures how acidic or basic a solution is, ranging from 1 (acidic) to 14 (basic).

Macromolecules

Large molecules made up of smaller building blocks, including carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.

Monomer

A single building block that can combine with others to form a polymer.

Polymer

A molecule composed of many monomers bonded together.

Dehydration Synthesis

The process of joining two molecules by removing water to form a bond.

Hydrolysis

The process of breaking down a polymer by adding water to separate monomers.

Enzymes

Proteins that act as catalysts to accelerate chemical reactions by lowering activation energy.

Activation Energy

The minimum energy required to start a chemical reaction.

Rate of Reaction

The change in concentration of reactants or products per unit time.

Factors Affecting Enzymes

Conditions such as enzyme concentration, substrate concentration, and temperature that influence reaction rates.