Water, Mixtures, pH, and Metabolic Reactions

Vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts from mixtures, water properties, solution terminology, pH, concentration units, chemical reactions, and metabolism.

Mixture

Substances blended but not chemically combined; no bonds form between components.

Solvent

The more abundant substance in a solution that dissolves the solute (often water).

Solute

The substance dissolved in a solvent to form a solution.

Water

A polar covalent molecule; universal solvent with high heat capacity; exhibits cohesion and adhesion and participates in hydrolysis and dehydration synthesis.

Hydrophilic

Water-loving; dissolves in water; typically polar or charged.

Hydrophobic

Water-fearing; does not dissolve in water; typically nonpolar.

Adhesion

Water’s tendency to cling to surfaces or membranes, reducing friction.

Cohesion

Attraction between water molecules, causing surface tension.

Hydrolysis

Reaction in which water breaks chemical bonds to split molecules.

Dehydration synthesis

Reaction that forms bonds by removing water, building larger molecules.

pH

A measure of hydrogen ion concentration; pH = -log10[H+].

Acid

Substance with pH < 7 that donates H+ and increases hydrogen ion concentration.

Base

Substance with pH > 7 that accepts H+ (or releases OH−) and decreases hydrogen ion concentration.

Buffer

Substance that minimizes pH changes by neutralizing added acids or bases.

Molarity

Concentration defined as moles of solute per liter of solution (mol/L).

Mole

Amount of substance whose mass in grams equals its molecular weight.

Milliequivalents per liter (mEq/L)

Electrolyte concentration that accounts for charge; used for ions in solution.

Reversible reaction

Reaction that can proceed in forward or reverse directions.

Law of mass action

Direction of a reversible reaction depends on the relative concentrations of reactants and products.

Catabolism

Metabolic pathway that breaks down molecules to release energy.

Anabolism

Metabolic pathway that builds larger molecules from smaller ones; requires energy.

Oxidation

Loss of electrons by a molecule; often release of energy; oxygen typically acts as the oxidizing agent.

Reduction

Gain of electrons by a molecule.

Redox reaction

Oxidation-reduction reaction; coupled oxidation and reduction processes.

Body water percentage

Approximately 60% of the human body is water.

Emulsion

Suspension where one liquid is dispersed in another (e.g., fat in water); often requires agitation to maintain dispersion.