BIOL 1107K: Water and Carbon Life Fundamentals

Vocabulary flashcards covering the properties of water, acids and bases, organic chemistry fundamentals, and functional groups based on BIOL 1107K lecture notes.

Cohesion

A phenomenon where hydrogen bonds collectively hold water molecules together.

Adhesion

An attraction between different substances, for example, between water and plant cell walls.

Specific heat

The amount of heat that must be absorbed or lost for $1\,g$ of that substance to change its temperature by $1^\circ\text{C}$. Water has a high specific heat, allowing it to resist temperature changes.

Solution

A liquid that is a homogeneous mixture of substances.

Solvent

The dissolving agent of a solution.

Solute

The substance that is dissolved in a solution.

Aqueous solution

A solution in which water is the solvent.

Hydrophilic

A substance that has an affinity for water.

Hydrophobic

A substance that does not have an affinity for water, such as oil molecules which have relatively nonpolar bonds.

Hydrogen ion ($H^+$)

A proton transferred when a hydrogen atom in a hydrogen bond between two water molecules leaves its electron behind.

Acid

Any substance that increases the $H^+$ concentration of a solution.

Base

Any substance that reduces the $H^+$ concentration of a solution.

Buffer

A substance that minimizes changes in concentrations of $H^+$ and $OH^-$ in a solution.

Organic chemistry

The study of compounds that contain carbon.

Tetravalence

Carbon's ability to form four covalent bonds with its four valence electrons, making large, complex molecules possible.

Hydrocarbons

Organic molecules consisting of only carbon and hydrogen, which can undergo reactions that release large amounts of energy.

Functional groups

Components of organic molecules most commonly involved in chemical reactions; their number and arrangement give molecules unique properties.

Hydroxyl

A polar functional group ($-OH$) found in alcohols that can form hydrogen bonds with water molecules to help dissolve organic compounds like sugars.

Carbonyl

A functional group ($C=O$) found in ketones (within a carbon skeleton) and aldehydes (at the end of a carbon skeleton).

Carboxyl

A functional group in carboxylic acids that has acidic properties and is found in cells in an ionized form with a charge of $1-$.

Amino

A functional group in amines that acts as a base and can pick up an $H^+$ from the surrounding solution, becoming ionized with a charge of $1+$.

Phosphate

A functional group that contributes negative charge ($2-$ at the end of a molecule; $1-$ internally) and can react with water to release energy.

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP)

The primary energy-transferring molecule in the cell, consisting of adenosine attached to three phosphate groups; it acts as a short-term carrier of chemical energy.