Chemistry of Life

These flashcards cover key terms and concepts from the lecture notes on the chemistry of life.

Chemical Element

The simplest form of matter that has unique chemical properties.

Atom

The basic unit of a chemical element, consisting of a nucleus and surrounding electrons.

Molecule

A particle composed of two or more atoms united by a chemical bond.

Ionic Bond

An attraction between a cation and an anion.

Covalent Bond

A type of bond formed by the sharing of electrons between atoms.

Hydrogen Bond

A weak attraction between a slightly positive hydrogen atom and a slightly negative atom (usually oxygen or nitrogen) in another molecule.

Electrolyte

A substance that ionizes in water and forms a solution capable of conducting electric current.

Acid

A substance with a pH less than 7 that increases the concentration of H+ in a solution.

Base

A substance with a pH greater than 7 that decreases the concentration of H+ in a solution.

pH

A measure derived from the molarity of H+, indicating the acidity or basicity of a solution.

Polysaccharide

A carbohydrate composed of long chains of monosaccharides.

Lipids

Hydrophobic organic molecules with a high ratio of hydrogen to oxygen.

Amino Acid

The building blocks of proteins, containing an amino group, a carboxyl group, and a radical group.

Enzyme

A protein that acts as a biological catalyst to speed up chemical reactions.

Nucleotide

An organic compound consisting of a nitrogenous base, a sugar, and one or more phosphate groups.

ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate)

The body’s primary energy-transfer molecule.

Hydrophilic

Substances that dissolve in water.

Hydrophobic

Substances that do not dissolve in water.

Carbohydrate

A macromolecule composed of sugars that serve as a quick energy source.

Functional Group

A specific group of atoms within a molecule that is responsible for the characteristic chemical reactions of that molecule.