Chemistry / Biochemistry

What are the 3 subatomic particles and their charges?

Proton (+)

Neutron (0)

Electron (-)

What do atomic number and mass number tell you?

Atomic number = Protons

Mass number = Protons + neutrons

How do you find neutrons?

Mass number - atomic number

Why is carbon important in biology?

It can form 4 stable bonds, allowing it to build complex molecules

Why is water important in biology?

H2O is a polar, so it can dissolve many polar and charged substances.

What are solute, solvent, and precipitate?

Solute = gets dissolved

Solvent = does the dissolving

Precipitate = solid that separates out

What do acids, bases, and buffers do?

Acid - increases H+

Base - decreases H+ / adds OH-

Buffer - resists pH changes

How do you count atoms in a chemical formula?

Subscripts tell the number of atoms; No subscript = 1; Add them for the total

A coefficient tells how many molecules there are and multiplies every atom (EVERYTHING)

How many atoms are in H2O, CO2, and C6H12O6?

H2O = 3

CO2 = 3

C6H12O6 = 24

How many total atoms are in 2Ca(OH)2?

Ca = 1 × 2 = 2

O = 2 × 2 = 4

H = 2 × 2 = 4

Total: 10

What does pH measure, and why are buffers important?

pH measures H+ concentration; buffers help maintain stable pH and homeostasis